<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 24-26. - Purpose.</div>
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            <p class="p0">
               The purpose of this article shall be to set forth the regulatory and licensing requirements
               for adult establishments located within the unincorporated portions of the County
               of Halifax, North Carolina. Adult establishments, because of their very nature, are
               recognized as having serious objectionable operational characteristics. Studies and
               experiences that are relevant to North Carolina have shown that lower property values
               and increased crime rates tend to accompany and are brought about by adult establishments.
               The county commissioners find that regulation of these uses is necessary to ensure
               that these adverse secondary effects do not contribute to the blighting of surrounding
               neighborhoods and to regulate acts, omissions or conditions detrimental to the health,
               safety or welfare and the peace and dignity of the county. Regulation to achieve these
               purposes can be accomplished by the procedures set forth hereinafter.
               </p>
            <p class="p0">
               The provisions of this article have neither the purpose nor effect of imposing a limitation
               or restriction on the content of any communicative materials, including sexually oriented
               materials. Similarly, it is not the intent nor effect of this article to restrict
               or deny access by adults to sexually oriented materials protected by the First Amendment,
               or to deny access by the distributors and exhibitors of sexually, oriented entertainment
               to their intended market. This article represents a balancing of the legitimate ends
               of the community by imposing an incidental, content neutral place, time and manner
               regulation of sexually oriented businesses, without limiting alternative avenues of
               communication and at the same time, requiring the business to carry its share of financing
               administrative and enforcement activities.
               </p>
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. of 2-2-98, Â§ 100.01)
               </p></div>