OSAKA - Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama said on September 18th that the city is considering halting new applications for so-called special zone minpaku, or private lodging businesses, in response to a string of neighborhood disputes.
Special zone minpaku, authorized in areas designated under the national strategic special zone framework, are heavily concentrated in Osaka, which accounts for about 90 percent of such facilities nationwide. The spread of these operations has triggered repeated problems over noise and garbage disposal. The city has set up a project team to identify issues, but Yokoyama indicated that if problems cannot be quickly resolved, suspending new applications remains an option.
“At the municipal level we will discuss whether to suspend applications or restrict certain areas, and then submit the matter to the national zone council for a final decision,” Yokoyama said around 4 p.m. on September 18th.
The city plans to outline its course of action on September 30th. If applications are halted, officials will also discuss criteria for resuming acceptance in the future.
Source: KTV NEWS
