THE STARLITE Motel in Stanton.

A public hearing on an interim agency ordinance to temporarily prohibit motels from altering, expanding or enlarging or building new public lodging facilities – such as motels or hotels – is on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting of the Stanton City Council.

  According to a staff report, the urgency is due to a number of motels in the city becoming magnets for criminal activity, including prostitution, drugs, robberies, gang activity and the use of deadly weapons. The temporary restriction will allow the city to study the impacts and protect the residents’ safety, said the report.

 The moratorium will be in place for 10 months and 15 days pending a study and the preparation of an update to the city’s municipal and zoning codes.

 Affected would be the Jade Palace, Chester Inn, Casa Playa Inn and Suites, Motel 6, Dixie Hotel, Starlite Motel and Villa Motel, most of them located on or near Beach Boulevard.

 The council will meet in City Hall at 6:30 p.m. at 7800 Katella Ave.