Zarutskie looks over papers

TOWN OF NEWBURGH – Fantasy Island, an adult entertainment venue starting an expansion project on Route 9W in Middle Hope, has received a strong showing of resistance from the community. As Newburgh currently has no zoning laws restricting siting of such establishments, the town board is examining a series of reports on how the adult entertainment business has had adverse effects elsewhere, dubbed a "Negative Secondary Effects Study."

Town Clerk Andrew Zarutskie said the board will be scouring these files to see if any solutions can be adapted for the Town of Newburgh, to see if they can "zone or restrict them to a certain area." The reports have been compiled from all over the country: Indianapolis, Indiana; Austin and El Paso, Texas; New York City; Milford, Connecticut and others round out the roster.

"It's become clear over the last few months that this issue is controversial with a lot of the property owners and residents. So we are looking for ways that other communities have dealt with situations such as this," said Zarutskie.

The town clerk recalled there being a number of these lascivious institutions on 9W during the 1970s, but that is the only one left,” he said.

“So when you look at it that way we're doing pretty good." The board has uploaded the reports for public viewing on the town website.

Zarutskie added that strip clubs are seen by some as a black eye on any community, and that they are working to see that the property rights of the town's residents are respected.