Super brothel gets go ahead
Independent panel decides any activities which take place inside the building cannot be considered under the RMA.
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Hawke’s Bay
An independent panel has granted resource consent for the controversial Chow Brothers Auckland building project.
John and Michael Chow plan to build a 15-storey tower on the former Palace Hotel site in the CBD.
The building will feature offices, bars and entertainment facilities including a brothel and hotel.
The panel, comprising David Kirkpatrick, Rebecca Skidmore, Justine Bray and Bill Smith, decided the activities which took place inside the building could not be considered under the RMA.
It also found it was outside its scope to deny resource consent as a punishment for Chow brothers.
“While we can appreciate that a number of submitters are at least dissatisfied with what occurred or did not occur in the wake of the demolition of Aurora Hotel we have no lawful authority.”
A public hearing was held earlier this month. The project attracted more than 220 public submissions opposing the development.
Auckland Council senior planner Jennifer Valentine had earlier released a report recommending resource consent be granted.
She also found she could not take into account the morality of activities which took place inside.
Victoria Young
Fri, 30 Nov 2012
Fri, 30 Nov 2012
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Super brothel gets go ahead
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