Mitre10 could be the next development in Hamilton East, following the recent consent for a Countdown supermarket on Peachgrove Road.
Hamilton City Council have confirmed they received an application for consent late last year for a Mitre10 on the industrial zoned land, owned by Tainui Group Holdings, on the corner of Ruakura Road and Wairere Drive.
The decision to grant or decline the application will be determined by independent commissioner Bill Wasley.
Councillor Dave Macpherson said it may be the next step to a commercial centre, and while he is not against the idea, council needs to have a plan so systems can cope with the development.
"Our intentions for the area have not been to have a commercial centre there. I don't oppose having a commercial centre somewhere on the East side, Hamilton is big enough to need that, but we need a plan for our roading systems, our stormwater systems, to handle it.
"We haven't planned for any development there. We planned for it to be through traffic to the university, schools, town and then peoples residences. So inevitably that is going to be a lot of extra cost to council.
"If you have a Mitre10 on the corner of Ruakura Road and Wairere Drive how are people going to get into it? I don't know how that is going to work."
Deputy Mayor Gordon Chesterman said: "The Mitre10 I believe will signal the development that will occur around the container port (inland port) because there is a block of land that will take a small shopping centre and potentially another supermarket going in there."
Mr Chesterman said the application has been put on hold while it is referred to an independent commissioner, as the development is seeking traffic movement on to Wairere Drive. The complex will include a cafe and a garden centre.
When the land was rezoned industrial, residents were concerned about industry such as panelbeaters due to the noise, but the noise of a Mitre10 will be much less, Mr Chesterman said. "This should make them much more relaxed."
The Mitre10 would be near the proposed Countdown supermarket on Peachgrove Road.
The $23m supermarket was granted consent by Independent Planning Commissioner Alan Withy, following a hearing on June 23.
The approval is subject to 52 different conditions.
Countdown have said the supermarket will create up to 100 new jobs and engage dozens of local construction workers and building contractors.
Countdown's general manager for property Adrian Walker says Hamilton East is a community the company is keen to employ and invest in.
Adrian said the design acknowledges the area's history, and will fit in with the area.
It will include 192 car parks and 14 cycle parks.
While the timeframe hasn't been finalised, the company is hoping to be on site later this year.