COUNTY - Bridgewater doesn't want to get caught with its pants down if there's an application for a triple X-rated cinema.

 While it can legislate restrictions, the town may not be able to stop an adult entertainment theatre from locating in the town.

 "I want to be sure that we know what control we have in advance," Mayor Carroll Publicover said last week after mentioning the topic during a televised council meeting and saying that he has the planning department investigating the issue.

 Frank Rhyno, who grew up in this area, is considering starting theatres in various locations in the province - including Bridgewater - that play classic and current porn. His hope is to make up lost revenue related to fees the province is charging him to rate porn movies sold at the Sister Sarah's chain of stores that he operates.

 Attempts to reach Mr. Rhyno were unsuccessful. He has a connection to at least one vacant building in town, property records show. That location is 99 Aberdeen Road where a Sister Sarah's shop and a used clothing outlet used to be. The property is listed to a numbered company in Mr. Rhyno's name. The address associated to the company is the location of the New Minas Sister Sarah's store.

 Bridgewater planning director Eric Shaw said council can use planning and land-use policies and legislation to direct where such theatres can be situated in town and under what conditions.

 "As it stands, this type of use is permitted as-of-right in almost all of our commercial zoning," Mr. Shaw said.

 "Council may wish to review our planning policies and regulations on this matter, but I don't believe these types of legal uses can be completely prohibited on moral grounds. Case law suggests it wouldn't hold up in court."

 Mayor Carroll Publicover said as of early last week the town hadn't received an application and he hadn't been contacted by Mr. Rhyno about the matter.

 Mr. Rhyno is said to be eyeing the Halifax Regional Municipality to house one of the first theatres.

posted on 11/03/09