Published: July 16, 2008 04:29 pm      

Town cracking down on adult business

PLAINFIELD — Newly placed signs throughout Plainfield proclaim it to be a community of values.

But the continuing operation of an adult entertainment business on East Main Street has prompted some residents to question that distinction.

Hot Temptations, an adult store at 2316A E. Main St., offers sexually explicit products and live lingerie shows. It has been in violation of town zoning ordinances and has not had a required adult entertainment license since opening June 7.

As a result, Hendricks Superior Court Judge Mark A. Smith granted a temporary injunction last month, ordering the shop to close.

But according to some residents, Hot Temptations is still open for business.

“Why are they permitted to have a sign which says open?” asked Plainfield resident Roberta Fippen at a town council meeting earlier this week. “The sign is lit, in full view, and indicates the fact that they are open. When I drove by on Sunday, the store appeared quite open.”

Fippen said she collected three pages of signatures from concerned residents who want the adult business shut down.

“I’m very aggrevated with the whole thing,” she said. “If they haven’t gotten the proper permission to operate such a business, I don’t see why we have to waste the time and the money to go through all these steps to close this place. They’re apparently defying every action taken against them.”

The attorney for Christopher Eads of West Lafayette—Hot Temptations’ owner—told Plainfield Town Attorney Mel Daniel last week that he would contact Eads about removing the open sign.

Daniel said a hearing for a permanent injunction against the business is set for Friday. Such action would permanently prohibit Hot Temptations from conducting business at that location.

“We’re trying to move it along as quickly as the court will push it along for us,” Daniel said.

Town officals plan to examine and revise current ordinances regarding adult entertainment businesses. The town council approved Ordinance 21-2008, which prevents new adult businesses from opening in Plainfield until current adult entertainment ordinances are revised.

“The town’s adult entertainment ordinance has been on the books for a while,” Daniel said. “It’s obviously still enforcable, but as time passes, it seems like certain types of businesses continue to try to find ways to get around these ordinances.”

Ordinance 21-2008 does not allow the town to interfere with adult businesses that are already legally operating.

“It’s time for the town to really take a hard look at any and all ordinances dealing with massage parlors,” Daniel said. “Some of these businesses are operating as escort services and lingerie modeling now. Rather than have these businesses pop up while the town is dealing with these issues, we will go with a moratorium on these businesses until our ordinances are revised.”



kevin.leibrock@flyergroup.com