Countdown expansion gets consent despite resident's concern about traffic volume and noise

Resource consent has been granted for a Countdown expansion in Regent. PHOTO/FILE

Progressive Enterprises has been granted resource consent to expand its Countdown store in Regent, despite concerns from some neighbouring residents.

Independent Commissioner Justine Bray heard submissions from Whangarei District Council (WDC) planners, Progressive Enterprises and a resident of neighbouring Wallace St at a hearing on February 2.

The development includes an extended 686sq m floor space, a new carpark, with service vehicle access from Wallace St, which would require Progressive to demolish two dwellings which it had bought. A dedicated pedestrian pathway into the site from Wallace St was also proposed.

Countdown is zoned under Business 3 Environment in the District Plan, but the Wallace St extensions are zoned Living 1 and 2, residential zoning which prohibits commercial activity.

Only the residents of 1A, 1B and 3 Wallace St were notified of the plan because they were "adversely affected in a minor way", according to the Whangarei District Council planners' report, which recommended granted consent.

Opposing resident, Marilyn Andela, was granted a hearing and expressed concern about the volume of commercial traffic that would use the new entrance, as well as the noise from the operation.

She handed Ms Bray 23 signed letters from 17 residents of Wallace St and six from Dinnis Ave, who feared they would be impacted by the plans.

Concerned Wallace St neighbour Geoff Seerup was one of those who were not served notice about the development as, despite living behind Countdown, was not deemed to be impacted by the development.

Ms Bray granted consent, with a number of conditions, and said the extension would provide for people and their communities' social and economic wellbeing.

She said the non-notification of residents in the area was "not within the scope of the hearing".

Traffic consultant Donald McKenzie and planning consultant for Progressive Jane Douglas had stated that the impact of the work, and extended site, was less than minor for residents.

Commissioner Bray agreed that the lower end of Wallace St, where Age Concern was based, was not strictly residential.

Progressive would address the issue of delivery and waste collection trucks entering the existing site before 7am and noise and after 10pm, which contravened consent, but she said the effects on the traffic network would be less than minor.

Noise barriers would have to be erected on site during construction and the site would have to be fully compliant with a full gamut of planning regulations, she said.