Opinion ID: 1922564
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Extent of Restriction

Text: [¶ 28] Under the fourth prong of the O'Brien test, an incidental restriction on alleged First Amendment freedoms must be no greater than is necessary to achieve the government's purpose, 391 U.S. at 377, 88 S.Ct. 1673 providing reasonable alternative avenues for expression, Cmty. for Creative Non-Violence, 468 U.S. at 293, 104 S.Ct. 3065. In City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres , a zoning ordinance that prohibited adult theaters from locating within 1000 feet of residences, churches, parks, and within one mile of any school was held to permit reasonable alternative avenues of communication where 520 acres were zoned for adult theatres. 475 U.S. at 44-54, 106 S.Ct. 925. In that case, the Court noted all 520 acres need not be actually available. Id. at 54, 106 S.Ct. 925 (That respondents must fend for themselves in the real estate market, on an equal footing with other prospective purchasers and lessees, does not give rise to a First Amendment violation.). [¶ 29] In the present case, the trial court concluded that there are substantial areas where a business providing `nude entertainment' could be lawfully located within the city. The record reflects that Diva's introduced a map into evidence which demonstrated that 963 acres are potentially available for adult businesses in Bangor. Because the trial court's factual finding is supported by competent evidence, it is not clearly erroneous. Stickney v. City of Saco, 2001 ME 69, ¶ 13, 770 A.2d 592, 600. Based on the record presented, we conclude that section 228's incidental restriction on speech is no greater than is necessary to achieve the government's purpose, providing reasonable alternative avenues for expression. [¶ 30] Because section 228 is within the City's power to enact, furthers important government interests, is not related to the suppression of expression, and works incidental restrictions no greater than necessary to achieve the government's purpose of minimizing the negative effects associated with nude entertainment, we hold that it complies with the requirements of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and article I, section 4, of the Maine Constitution.