"The Blue Boutique sells instruments, devises and paraphernalia," said resident Sharon Pritchett. "That by itself would define the store as a sexually oriented business, and it would not be permitted in Sugar House."

The Blue Boutique, which specializes in lingerie, sex toys, adult videos and other adult merchandise, plans to open its doors in mid-December at its new Sugar House location — across the street from Sugar House Park and three blocks away from Highland High School.

It's a few blocks closer to the school than the Blue Boutique's previous location at 1080 E. 2100 South, which is planned for demolition as part of a redevelopment project.

The business has filed with the city to change its business license to a new location, which means it has vested land-use rights, Rutan said. If the city were to revise its zoning ordinance or rework the sexually-oriented-business portion of the code, those changes would not apply to those already vested under the law, including the Blue Boutique, he said.

That doesn't sit well with residents.

"It seems the city is only concerned in the vested interest of a business and not the vested interest of people who have homes there," said Julie Price, a longtime Sugar House resident.

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