SNOW HILL – The Worcester County Commissioner will vote on a moratorium on new adult themed businesses at Tuesday’s commissioner meeting in Snow Hill, in order to give staff time to explore options for restricting and regulating sexually oriented businesses.
The county has been considering regulations on adult businesses for some time, in the wake of the opening of an adult themed store in north Ocean City earlier this year.
The resort enacted a moratorium on sexually oriented businesses this spring, prompted by community outrage over the new shop, to explore legal limits on such businesses. The town’s Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to examine the resort’s options at a meeting this week.
Worcester County is now following suit. Although officials contend they were exploring potential restrictions on the adult business, concerns sparked last week when it was confirmed by this newspaper a high-profile site along Route 50, at its intersection with Keyser Point Road, was tapped for an adult business, but the property owner, Harley-Davidson of Ocean City, refused to accept the business as a tenant.
An outside law firm engaged by the county to study the legal options should deliver their report soon, according to the county.
More news will come after Tuesday’s meeting and the full report will be included in Friday’s website update and in the print edition, which is published Friday morning.