Businesses and residents are celebrating after plans to open a brothel on Auckland's North Shore at a "Brazilian love motel" have been turned down.
A waiver application for a brothel at Parity Place in Glenfield was turned down by a North Shore City Council sub-committee today after a dispensation hearing.
The waiver application related to a Brazilian motel, which already holds a resource consent to operate as a short stay motel. The motel required a waiver under the North Shore City Bylaw 2000 in order to operate as a brothel, because it was within 250 metres of a residential area.
A sub-committee of the council's regulatory committee, chaired by councillor Callum Blair, today heard from a number of residents and representatives of businesses in the area, who voiced their concerns.
Mr Blair said the main reason the application was declined was due to the motel breaching the 250 metre rule in terms of proximity to a residential area.
"The sub-committee unanimously agreed that preserving the integrity of the 250 metre separation between brothels and residential areas, as stated in our North Shore City Bylaw 2000, would be of benefit to the community.
"The committee is also of the view that a brothel at 3 Parity Place could have an adverse effect on the amenity of residents within 250 metres of the proposed brothel.
"Due to the applicant already having a valid resource consent to operate as a motel, the committee also considered the applicant will be not be hugely inconvenienced due to this waiver being declined.
"The property is still able to operate as a motel and the applicants have agreed that council will monitor the activities of the motel as necessary," Mr Blair said.
Earlier this month, the opponents decided not to help the proposed 11-room Desire Motel, in a light industrial area of the suburb of Glenfield, by hiring out carpark spaces -- needed for resource consent -- after they realised the motel was for short stays, with hourly rates.
Desire director Frederico Ronnau said he was aware some neighbours were not happy with the motel's arrival.
He said the Brazilian motel, or what Japanese call a "love hotel", was not a brothel, although sex workers might use the premises.
The rooms catered for couples who had no privacy at home or singles requiring a rendezvous.
"It's a unique service to couples looking for a nice place to bond and spend some time together with privacy."
But auto electrician Mike Barlow said there was concern the motel would draw a criminal element at night.
Automotive business owner John Phillis said the motel was out of place in the small street.
"A petition has gone to the council from a few little businesses...family type businesses where we bring the kids down at the weekend while we are working."
