KITTERY, Maine — Six members of the Town Council voted Wednesday to renew the video viewing booth license for the adult video store Amazing.net, after discussing whether they had authority to deny the application.
Councilor Jeff Thomson initially made a motion to deny the renewal application, citing the fact that several families with children live near the facility on Route 236.
“I believe that when issues like this arise, it is always cited to be a First Amendment issue,” said Thomson. “But I don’t believe activity of this type is what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they drafted the Constitution.”
Thomson suggested that if the council voted to deny the application, it might deter the owners of the establishment from continuing to run the adult video store.
“One never knows that if perhaps another obstacle is placed in front of them, at some point they may feel it’s not worth it and leave,” Thomson said.
Other members of the council expressed their distaste for the establishment, but said they felt the board lacked the authority to deny the application.
“I think the majority of the people sitting here feel the way Jeff does,” said Councilor Ann Grinnell. “But I have to vote for it because they can legally have that facility at that location. I wish they couldn’t, but they can.”
“As offensive as it might be, they are complying with our ordinances,” said Councilor Judy Spiller.
Amazing.net has been under scrutiny since 2005, when residents complained to town officials that they had been finding used condoms and other sex-related items on the side of the road. Neighbors also complained of cars being parked near their homes at various hours of the day and reported witnessing people acting suspiciously and urinating and masturbating in public.
The council subsequently took action in 2006 to prohibit curtains or doors in front of video viewing areas and to restrict parking in the area.
And Town Manager John Carter said on Wednesday he hasn’t received any recent complaints regarding the shop.
“Things have turned around, in my point of view,” said Carter. “Unless people aren’t picking up the phone and calling me.”