Zeta-Jones Losing Local Planning Dispute

By Stephen M. Silverman

Wednesday March 03, 2004 06:12 PM EST

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Catherine Zeta-Jones and her parents, who are building a $1.85 million home for the folks in a fishing village in the star's native Wales, appear to be losing an effort to force one of their neighbors to stop managing his business from his garage, reports the Associated Press.

On Tuesday, the Swansea Council planning committee voted to permit the neighbor, Steve Gwynn, to continue his telecommunications business in his home for the next two years, despite the Zeta-Jones residence that is being built.

Zeta-Jones, 34, who is no stranger to litigation (she and husband Michael Douglas battled Britain's Hello! Magazine last year over unauthorized wedding photos, and she also sued a makeup company for suggesting she used its products) reportedly had her lawyer send a letter to Swansea councilors on behalf of her parents, Dai and Pat Zeta-Jones.

"Our clients purchased the plot and agreed to the construction of a substantial dwelling on the clear understanding that it would be private, prestigious and exclusive, and extremely safe and secure as it was a 'gated' development," the letter said, according to AP.

"Our clients would also be extremely concerned and alarmed that the privacy and security of the development would be jeopardized by virtue of the visits to site by members of staff, customers and delivery vehicles of Mr. Gwynn."

Gwynn insists that his business only receives one to three visitors a week, usually couriers delivering packages.

But Councilor Howard Morgan told the committee that during a site visit by councilors last month, a group of foreign tourists were gathered outside.

"You would think they had come to visit a shrine," he said.