The Las Cruces Planning and Zoning commission voted 3 to 1 against granting the permit to build a strip club on Westgate Court.

An overwhelming majority of citizens asked the commission Tuesday to not approve the special permit for the strip club in fear of what bringing the establishment would do to the city. 

"Why don't we put a meth lab in," one resident said. "It would have the same effect."

There was not a single empty seat in City Council chambers leaving many people standing. More than 30 people got up to speak their minds. 

A spokesperson for the applicants said the proposed strip club, called The Bronx, meets all of the legal guidelines, and that it will be a minimum of 1,000 feet away from any schools, day care centers, public parks and churches. 

The spokesperson told planning and zoning commissioners to make this a legal issue and not a moral one. 

Many residents cited religion as a reason to vote against the strip club and said that it was immoral and unwanted. 

One Christian church member said, "objectification of women isn't good for anyone, women or men."

One man vowed to take pictures of customers who attend the strip club and publicly post them in an effort to keep them away. 

"This is a seedy establishment," said a concerned citizen against the strip club. "It's the worst of our humanity that comes out in this kind of activity. It's not something that says 'Wow, this is Las Cruces. This is what is good about this town.'" 

There were some citizens who were for the strip club and said that religion shouldn't be an issue. 

"There's a separation between church and state, and people should have the right to open any kind of establishment they want that stays within the legal rights," said Terrance Ivey, a supporter of the strip club. 

The applicants said they plan to appeal the decision to City Council.