Special-use permit OK'd for brothel west of Fallon

A proposed brothel near Leeteville Junction moved forward following approval of a special-use permit Wednesday night by the Churchill County Planning Commission.

Financial backers of the brothel David Houston, Kemp Shiffer and John Kirsch, all of Reno, presented their proposal to the public at the meeting.

Houston served as a defense attorney in the Mustang Ranch trial, while Shiffer was a special agent for the U.S. Department of the Treasury who investigated the now defunct brothel of Storey County.

Nevada's Petticoat Junction would be a 20,000-square-foot brothel off the Carson Highway at the end of Beasley Drive, about 10 miles west of Fallon. The facility would have 20 bedrooms, four VIP suites and would employ 25 to 30 prostitutes with 10 to 15 working per shift, Shiffer said. An outdoor pool, privacy fence, electric gates, security cameras and a parking lot for 65 patrons are also planned.

"I think if it's done properly and legally, it can be a good benefit to the community and the tax base," Shiffer said during the presentation.

Others disagree.

George Flint, executive director of the Nevada Brothel Association, said the brothel is too large to be profitable in Churchill County.

"This is a nonviable investment," he said. "It makes no sense. It's too far removed from the urban areas. It's altogether too big."

The commission chambers were nearly full with concerned residents, most opposed to the brothel and a few supporters. The board also received five letters opposed to the approval of a special-use permit.

Among the concerns were property value, potential exposure to children and the perceived impression of a brothel along a highway leading to Fallon.

A point of contention was the property's southern boundary, which is just within 2,000 feet of a school bus stop on Marshall Drive. The county's brothel ordinance prohibits a brothel from operating within 2,000 feet of a bus stop.

Houston said the brothel would be placed near the northern edge of the parcel, creating a larger distance to meet zoning requirements. The southern part of the parcel is planned to be split, increasing the distance of the brothel property from the bus stop.

Most planning commissioners agreed the intent of separation was met. A rise in the landscape, Highway 50 and a stretch of desert separates the site from the bus stop.

Houston said that while not every resident will agree with the business, he wants to mitigate any potential impact.

"We're trying to open a business that represents a form of class within the industry," he said.

The applicants must now apply for a county brothel license before construction, which they hope to begin within a year.

-- Contact reporter Josh Johnson at jjohnson@lahontanvalleynews.com.