Feng v Willoughby City Council [2021] NSWLEC 1222

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Feng v Willoughby City Council [2021] NSWLEC 1222 Hearing dates: 30 and 31 March 2021 Date of orders: 05 May 2021 Decision date: 05 May 2021 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Clay AC Decision: The Court orders: (1) The appeal is dismissed. (2) Development application DA-2020/66 for the change of use and fit-out of the first floor of the existing building for a massage parlour and sex services premises at 84A Hampden Road, Artarmon is determined by refusal. (3) The exhibits, other than exhibits A and 1, are to be returned. Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION – massage parlour and sex services premises – breach of separation control in Willoughby Local Environmental Plan – clause 4.6 objection – whether there is a cluster – whether the objectives of the control are otherwise met – whether there are sufficient environmental planning grounds to justify the contravention – relevance of planning principles Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ss 8.7 Willoughby Local Environmental Plan 2012 cll 2.3(2), 4.6, 6.19 Cases Cited: Alphatex Australia v The Hills Shire Council (No 2) [2009] NSWLEC 1126 Botany Bay City Council v Premier Customs Services Pty Ltd (2009) 172 LGERA 338; [2009] NSWCA 226 Initial Action Pty Ltd v Woollahra Municipal Council (2008) 236 LGERA 256; [2018] NSWLEC 118 Martyn v Hornsby Shire Council (2004) 139 LGERA 282; [2004] NSWLEC 614 Rebel MH Neutral Bay Pty Limited v North Sydney Council [2019] NSWCA 130 Stromness Pty Limited v Woollahra Municipal Council [2006] NSWLEC 587 Wehbe v Pittwater Council (2007) 156 LGERA 446; [2007] NSWLEC 827 Woollahra Municipal Council v SJD DB2 Pty Limited [2020] NSWLEC 115 Yao v Liverpool City Council [2017] NSWLEC 1167 Zhang v Canterbury City Council (2001) 115 LGERA 373; [2001] NSWCA 167 Texts Cited: Willoughby Development Control Plan 2006 Section G.1.3 Willoughby Local Centres Strategy 2036 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Yi Feng (Applicant) Willoughby City Council (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: W K Soon (Applicant) J Fan (Solicitor) (Respondent)