American Fork city leaders are scrambling to come up with a sexually oriented business law now that a lingerie boutique is opening on the city's Main Street.

The Husband and Wife Intimacy Boutique, at 57 E. Main St., will open Tuesday.

"I think we are a little late," said Councilman Rick Storrs.

Chris Hobson owns the lingerie boutique and maintains that it is a tasteful enterprise. According to his description, the store will be tamer than Victoria's Secret.

The city has no legal definition of what a sexually oriented business is. Council members are concerned that other businesses of a more pronounced sexually oriented nature could come into the city.

Many communities, including Pleasant Grove and Lehi, have laws limiting where sexually oriented businesses can be located.

With no ordinance on the books regulating sexually oriented businesses, those who wish to open one in American Fork only have to apply for a business license.

Heidi Mitchell, who handles business licenses for the city, explained the process.

"They have to comply with the zoning and fill out an application," she said. "They have to have a fire inspection and get zoning clearance from Ron Morrill," American Fork's zoning administrator.

If a business passes those hurdles, it can get a license. Mitchell said she issued one to the boutique.

"They are not in any violation of any ordinance," she said.

Kasey Wright, an attorney who has been advising American Fork since the resignation of civil attorney Kevin Bennett, told the City Council recently that there are two ways to control sexually oriented businesses -- zoning and licensing requirements.

"The courts have held you can limit the time, place and manner [of business]," he said. Wright said there were issues that could be applied to the licensing, including background checks.

Mayor Heber Thompson asked the council members at a work session if they were ready to proceed with drafting an ordinance to regulate sexually oriented businesses.

The response was a "yes" from around the table.

But any council action won't affect the Husband & Wife Intimacy Boutique, which would able to remain regardless of the provisions of any law the city would eventually adopt because it was licensed before the ordinance was enacted.

Hobson has assured the city his business doesn't conflict with community standards.

"It is a place where a husband and wife can get romantic items and not see anything they wouldn't want to," he said.

The Lehi resident and his wife, Jackie, have been married for three years and have had an experience going into a similar store, but one without the discretion they plan.

"It is almost like you have to put on your blinders in certain sections," he said of other adult businesses.

Husband & Wife Intimacy Boutique will carry lingerie, candles, music, rose petals and massage oils. Hobson said the lingerie will not be displayed on mannequins.

"We actually have on our wall -- 'Strengthening marriages by increasing intimacy,' " Hobson said. "Our concept is especially designed for couples that have been married for a while and may be seeking new ways to express themselves.

"It is all about love and romance and strengthening marriages. It will be a lot of fun."

He said they chose the business's telephone number to reflect its design -- 756-LOVE (5683).

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C1.