Adult Video Store with Viewing Booths Coming to Washington Ave.

The possibility of an adult book and video store with coin operated video booths opening in North Haven loomed after the Planning & Zoning Commission agreed to settle litigation filed by Dennis Loring after he was prohibited from opening the store on Washington Ave. in 2005.

The Commission held a special meeting with its lawyer last night at the town library to agree to the settlement that will be approved by a
judge in New Haven Superior Court Friday.

The approval frees Loring to open the video store after he complies with a series of conditions established by Planning & Zoning, including posting a $15,000 bond and providing site plan drawings to the town building official Elio Floriano.

The drawings will show that the store will meet a number of Planning & Zoning requirements, including one that states how the video booth
doors will be constructed to insure that only one person at a time occupies them.

Last night’s agreement concludes years of legal activity that pitted Loring against Planning & Zoning. The Commission initially denied Loring’s site plan application in 2005 ruling that video preview booths
are not permitted. Loring’s suit against the Commission ultimately reached the Connecticut Supreme Court, which ruled in his favor, prompting the Commission to agree to the site plan application in 2008.

Adult magazines and videos are sold in North Haven at Land of Oz, but the town doesn’t have a store that shows video clips in private booths.

“It’s an interesting issue,” said Planning & Zoning chairman James Giulietti. “If it was just videos and magazines it’s protected free speech, but video preview booths are a different animal.”

The Commission originally rejected Loring’s site plan application because it said video booths were not a permitted use according to town regulations, but the Supreme Court ultimately ruled that the booths were an accessory to the business that will allow customers to preview videos before they buy them.

Citizens condemned the business at hearings that were held during the original site plan applications.

“They were very heated and it was hotly contested,” Giulietti said. “It was not something that went through quietly and there was a lot of attention to it. But we lost 3-2 at the Supreme Court and we have to abide by their decision.”

Giulietti was unsure of Loring’s immediate plans for the location at 144-146 Washington Ave. at the Dell’Oro Plaza.

“We’ll see what comes next,” he said.