11-storey tower to replace Mount motels

By Graham Skellern
Two popular motels near the beach at Mount Maunganui are likely to close their doors and make way for another multi million-dollar, high-rise apartment building.
The plan to construct an 11-storey, 38.5m high building at the Mauao end of Maunganui Rd will be considered by a Tauranga City Council commissioner's hearings panel next week.
The neighbouring motels, Ocean Sands and Mount Mews, will be demolished if the project is approved.
The developer, Asia Pacific Management, wants to amalgamate the two sections as one title, producing a combined area of 1618sq m for 76 apartments spread over 10 floors.
There would be 26 owner-occupied luxury apartments, 49 serviced suites for visitor accommodation and a manager's unit. One level of parking will be above ground and four below, giving enough room for 99 car parks.
A spokesman for Hamilton-based Asia Pacific said the final design had not yet been completed but the building would have style and flair.
"It will be something right up there in the design stakes and the apartments will be of a good size, absolutely."
Asia Pacific first lodged the plan in November 2003 but it was put on hold after the council asked for more information.
The project was publicly notified late last year and attracted 46 submissions, all but one of them in opposition.
The Asian Pacific spokesman said it had taken "a year or two to get moving" and he was still confident the Mount area could take another high-rise.
"There's a great deal of interest in the Bay because it's a place where people want to retire in a warmer climate.
"A safe, secure, lock-up apartment is appealing to them and some apartments along the road recently sold off the drawings," he said.
"It's a while since we looked at the feasibility and the final shape of the building might possibly change. What we are doing is applying for the maximum that is allowed under the district plan and then we will let the architect take over."
The building would be constructed in the high-rise stretch of Maunganui Rd between Hot Spot and Beaumont apartments and opposite Oceanside Twin Towers and Mount Royale apartments.
Beca planning consultant Keith Frentz has recommended to the council hearings panel that the land use consent be granted.
Mr Frentz said the application slightly exceeded residential density requirements but the effect was considered less than minor.
A Traffic Design Group report said there would be a 4 per cent increase in daily traffic on Maunganui Rd as a result of the new apartment building and this could be accommodated on the existing roading network.
The opposing submitters were mainly concerned about overshadowing, wind and noise effects and the impact on traffic and parking.