The orchard site at 404 Ōmokoroa Rd where the new Ōmokoroa Town Centre is being proposed by the JACE Group. Photo / File
The orchard site at 404 Ōmokoroa Rd where the new Ōmokoroa Town Centre is being proposed by the JACE Group. Photo / File
A resident who is opposed to an application to establish an Ōmokoroa Town Centre in her neighbourhood says she would sell up if she could.
Resource consent is being sought by Jace Investment Limited for a $75 million commercial and residential hub at 404 Ōmokoroa Rd.
The proposal is toestablish "a vibrant mixed-use retail and commercial precinct with medium density residential units and visitor accommodation".
The land includes about 5.3ha of commercial-zoned land, while another 2.5ha has been zoned for future urban land.
The development could include a supermarket, shops, cafes/restaurants, office space, a childcare centre and possible boutique-sized cinema and potentially a civic building.
This week three independent commissioners have been hearing evidence about the application in a hearing in the Western Bay of Plenty District Council's chambers.
Kaimai Views subdivision resident Robyn Scrimshaw, who lives about 20m from the northern boundary of the proposed town centre, said she was strongly opposed to the plans for several reasons.
She said the proposed design was "imposing and overbearing" in terms of its footprint and direct impacts on her and other neighbouring residents.
She had concerns about noise, dust, street lighting, and what would actually be built.
Scrimshaw said she worked mostly from home and feared the prospect of living next door to a commercial construction site for up to 10 years.
Scrimshaw said before she bought her property in 2018 she carried out due diligence, including talking to her lawyer, and was confident there was no future commercial development planned for the site.
Independent commissioners David Hill, Jan Caunter and David Mead hearing evidence in relation to the resource consent for the future town centre. Photo / Sandra Conchie
"If I knew this was a commercial zone I would not have bought here. I have looked at selling up and moving but the land prices mean it's not feasible or cost-effective."
Scrimshaw also cited safety concerns, both with visitors to the town centre accessing her subdivision and increased traffic levels.
Woolworths New Zealand, which owns FreshChoice in the Tralee St retail centre, has also opposed the plans, citing potential adverse economic effects and possible job losses.
Of the 76 submissions received in response to the application, 46 supported the plans and 17 opposed, while others were neutral, not specified or conditional.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council's lawyer Mary Hill told the commissioners that under the district plan, the council envisaged it would drive the town centre.
Hill said the council still had a vested interest on behalf of the community to ensure Ōmokoroa got a town centre that met the current and future needs of the community.
She said it was important there was more certainty around the staging of the proposal, particularly when stage one of the development was planned to go ahead.
"If the consent is granted, negotiations are already under way so the council is ready to hit the ground running with the structure plan."
Proposed consent conditions put forward by Jace were appropriate, Hill said.
An artist's impression of what the future Ōmokoroa Town Centre would look like. Photo / File
Vanessa Hamm, the lawyer representing the developer, told commissioners on Monday the proposed town centre would result in significant economic benefits for the Ōmokoroa community and there was strong community support for the project.
Jace's director, Craig Lemon, also said the commissioners could have confidence in the company's credentials to deliver the development to cater for the community's needs.
Lemon said as much as Jace was a business, this was a "people-focused legacy project" and something Jace would be proud to leave with the community.
Lemon said they were keen to get on with the project, which would be done in stages - with stage one possibly starting in August if consent was granted.
Richard Coles, director and planner for Momentum Planning and Design Limited, also gave evidence on behalf of Jace yesterday.
"Overall the design is a good one and a fair amount of effort has gone into creating it."
Coles said the application site was consistent with the location of a town centre in the Ōmokoroa Stage 2 Structure Plan and Jace was entitled to apply for resource consent.
A five-year stage one timeframe was appropriate given what needed to be achieved, including the bulk earthworks necessary to start putting in the road and services, he said.
The commissioners were expected to adjourn the hearing yesterday.
