British Columbia- from www.bclocalnews.com – Surrey is slamming the door on all adult entertainment shops and X-rated theatres.

Up until this week, under an existing zoning bylaw, four properties in the 10700 block of King George Boulevard were eligible for a business licence to operate an adult entertainment store or restricted theatre (theatre 2).

In 1993, Surrey made the small strip the only place in the city to locate such shops. (Stores with licences issued prior to that year could remain open).

The small sanctuary for sex stores was eliminated on Monday, when city council deleted the use entirely.

“The adult entertainment stores and the theatre 2 uses of the C-8A Zone are not appropriate in the context of the new City Centre vision,” a corporate report to council stated. “To achieve the City’s goal of promoting development and redevelopment of older neighbourhoods by enhancing the physical environment, these two permitted land uses should be removed from the C-8A Zone.”

The report notes that any business with a valid licence can remain as a “legal non-conforming use.”

The issue came to a head recently when Tony Perry [pictured], owner of an adult sex novelty store in the area since 1988, expanded his enterprise in the same block. It was when he added X-rated theatres to Roxxxy’s, the new adult store, and requested permits for them that the city became riled. Perry was refused the licence and was later sent a letter stating the permit for his second adult entertainment store was issued in error.

He’s retained legal council and expects to appear before council at a formal hearing.

Monday’s report to council states a pawn shop in the 10700 block of King George Boulevard is planning to move. The change in zoning effectively stops anyone else from locating an adult entertainment shop or X-rated theatre there.