on 09-22-2009 01:43

By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — A sex education business that was set to locate downtown and was considered as inappropriate by some city officials is now being blocked by a zoning issue.

Early last month, Megan Andelloux, the founder and director of the new Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health (CSPH) sent a press release trumpeting the Sept. 26 grand opening of her facility in The Grant Building at 250 Main St. However, on Friday, Andelloux said she received a notice from the city's Director of Zoning and Code Enforcement informing her that she could not occupy the building based on zoning that does not allow for an “educational” use at the site. She was told that she had neglected to fill out a certificate of zoning compliance that is required of all tenants at The Grant, and that city officials maintained they had been taken by surprise by her business coming to town.
The Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health was described as being “the first non-profit sexuality resource and information center in southeastern New England.” According to the press release, the CSPH “is proud to provide education, resources, and to serve as a headquarters for issues pertaining to sexual justice.”
Further, the press release states that “in the modern era of sexual education, there are two separate and disharmonious models competing against each other: sexual health and sexual pleasure. The CSPH plans to be a bridge between these two models.”
Adelloux said she is a sex educator and received board certification as a sexologist from the American Association of Sex Education Counselors and Therapists. She said she intends to provide education through classes and in one-on-one sessions held at the facility.
Andelloux said was had thought her business was “a go” until just recently, when she said she learned that someone had sent e-mails to the mayor and members of the city council portraying her and her business in a negative light. She admitted to having testified at the Statehouse in June in favor of keeping indoor prostitution legal in the state,
and said the person behind the e-mail, who she declined to identify on the advice of her attorney, had sent several unflattering letters to the editor of the Providence Journal  after her testimony in an effort to “discredit” her.
Andelloux said she had further been seeking an entertainment license to hold the grand opening event itself because, in addition to speakers from more than 25 organizations, there would be a three-minute video presentation. The press release also offered a chance to win door prizes and raffle items that were “graciously donated by companies such as We-Vibe, Spareparts and Tantus” --all known makers of sex toys and other sexual merchandise, according to various sources.
Andelloux said she had been told by the Pawtucket Police that she would be shut down if she went ahead with the grand opening in The Grant as planned. Her license request is still on the agenda for consideration at this Wednesday's City Council meeting.
Pawtucket Police Major Bruce Moreau acknowledged having a phone conversation with Andelloux in which he informed her that she would be in violation of city ordinances if she insisted on trying to occupy the building or hold the grand opening. Further, he said he advised her that she would need further permits for the raffle and for any sale of merchandise.
Pawtucket's Zoning Director, Ronald Travers, said that the owners of The Grant had petitioned the city for a special use permit to zone the building as mixed residential and commercial use. Under this permit, the allowed uses are business, office or personal use. “There is no provision for educational use, so I had to deny the applicant,” said Travers.
Travers said that Andelloux has 30 days in which to appeal the matter directly or to request a variance to the zoning. He stated, however, that she is not allowed to occupy the building or could be subject to further sanctions from the city.
Andelloux said that since the initial complaints, she has had several conversations with city councilors in an effort to clarify her business and to address their concerns. She told the TIMES that she now believes she has the support of “at least four councilors.”
Andelloux said she has obtained an attorney and does intend to challenge the denial based on the zoning matter. She points to a chess club that meets in The Grant as well as a weaving studio as being places that provide education and stated, “It is absurd that education is not allowed for adults.”  
Andelloux also said that she is meeting with Mayor James Doyle on Thursday in an effort to present her side of the issue.
Harvey Goulet, the mayor's Director of Administration, said that he and the mayor have agreed to meet with Andelloux. He said they have also instructed the city solicitor to look into the issues surrounding the zoning and permitting.
However, Goulet said that both he and the mayor still have serious concerns about the Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health locating on Main Street. “Personally, we're not interested in this type of business. It's not really something we feel is appropriate for our city,” said Goulet, speaking on behalf of both himself and the mayor. He said it would be their intention not to allow the business to open, but added, “we have to follow through with the laws.”
City Council President Henry Kinch Jr. said he could not speak for his fellow council members, but that he considers the matter clearly one in which the proper laws have to be followed. He said he had no real objection to the idea of a business providing educational information to adults, but said he was concerned with a video presentation that appeared to be of a burlesque nature as well as some the raffle merchandise as it was described on the business's website. 
Andelloux said that no matter what happens this week, she does not expect to be able to open the Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health on Saturday as planned. Any such resolution of the zoning matter would likely take a month or two, she said.
However, Andelloux said that the “grand opening” that she had planned for her new facility this Saturday has been moved instead to The Spot at 286 Thayer St., Providence, from 3 to 6 p.m. The event is billed as “a fun day of surprising education, networking opportunities, and will raise awareness of sexual rights issues in the New England and Tri-State area.”
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