An artist's rendering of what the proposed Tīrau Starbucks and Burger King development could look like.
A controversial Starbucks and Burger King development in Tīrau has been given the go-ahead by independent commissioners.
The panel of two, chairman Dave Serjeant and Ian Munro, have granted Tahua Properties Limited a resource consent to operate the two fast-food restaurants with drive-through facilities.
The consent is subject to conditions, including the restriction of operating hours to between 5am and 11pm, instead of the proposed 5am to 2am.
Lit-up signs must be turned off at 11pm and a speed hump and pedestrian priority markings must be included, along with a pedestrian visibility splay – an area of land at road junctions and driveways that must be kept clear of obstructions to ensure drivers have a clear line of sight to pedestrians and pedestrians have a clear view of vehicles.
Other conditions include the consideration of school hours during construction, restrictions on lighting and signage, landscaping and waste management.
In 2023, Tahua Properties Limited, a New Zealand retail and hospitality investment company that operates Starbucks New Zealand, Burger King New Zealand and Popeyes New Zealand, applied for a resource consent from South Waikato District Council.
The application was publicly notified in June last year, with 148 submissions received, of which 39 were in support, five were neutral and 104 were in opposition.
A hearing was held on August 18 and 19 this year.
Submitters against the proposal were mainly concerned about traffic, noise and the impact on the town’s character and established businesses.
In the report on the decision, released on Friday, Serjeant said the panel agreed with concerns regarding the opening hours.
“We consider that effects of late-night noise and potentially adverse social behaviour, not created by the proposed restaurants but related to their opening presence, favour an earlier closing time for both premises than sought by the applicant.
“We have determined that this closing time should be 11pm and note ... [that] illuminated signage being turned off at that time will limit other adverse effects on character and amenity.”
With the adjusted opening hours, Serjeant said the panel believed the restaurants would operate in a “residentially compatible manner”.
Additionally, the panel believed the proposal would have “acceptable, and overall low, adverse effects” on the residential neighbourhood.
“Other than Main Rd and immediate neighbouring properties, the proposal will have almost no real-world impact or effect on the vast majority of the neighbourhood or its character and amenity.
“It will be, for almost all of the neighbourhood, completely out of sight and unlikely to have any measurable impact on the overall qualities and pleasantness of that neighbourhood.
“We find that the proposal will not visually dominate the street ... The proposal will maintain the amenity of the Tīrau commercial street and reinforce its role as the centre of local commerce.”
The panel included a condition on cladding that was meant to ensure the use of corrugated iron, to be consistent with other local landmarks and shops.
Refuse and recycling collection cannot take place during set peak times and construction traffic must be avoided between the school arrival and departure hours of 8.30am and 9.00am and 2.45pm and 3.15pm.
A Construction Management Plan, Construction Traffic Management Plan and Loading Management Plan must be implemented.
Serjeant said concerns regarding the international food chain status of Burger King and Starbucks and the perception that either restaurant served unhealthy food were not considered under the Resource Management Act.
Overall, he said the panel didn’t believe the development would have a “discernible” effect on the town’s character “at all”.
“We find that it will not strike users of Main Rd as anomalous, or out of place.”
Serjeant said the panel found the proposal would be positive for the town.
“The proposal will have positive social and economic effects on Tirau township and the wider district generated by employment and income creation and an addition to the daily availability and range of food establishments in the town.”
Further, he said the proposal would be a “logical extension of the town centre”.
“The proposal will visually contribute to the variation and richness within the village’s core area.”
South Waikato District Council planning and performance manager Gary Knighton acknowledged the significant interest in the development.
“This topic has been of significant public interest and attracted a range of passionate viewpoints.”
There is now a 15 working-day period in which appeals can be lodged with the Environment Court.
Local resident Geoff Poole, who previously launched a petition against the proposal, said he was disappointed.
“I certainly won’t be celebrating,” he told the Waikato Herald.
However, he said he was “at peace” with the decision and wouldn’t take legal action or protest the decision.
“We did everything we could, we spoke up.
“It’s taken so long, some people will have forgotten about it.
“I just feel sorry for the local businesses that are going to be affected by it [the development].”
Waikato Chamber of Commerce chief executive Don Good, who previously said the development was “as much an opportunity as it is a threat”, told the Waikato Herald he believed the development would lead to “good economic activity” in Tīrau.
“South Waikato needs organisations to invest in it. This is a small but significant vote of confidence for the district.”
A spokeswoman for local MP Louise Upston said Upston wouldn’t comment on the matter “at this time” as it was a local government decision.
Danielle Zollickhofer is the Waikato news director and a multimedia journalist at the Waikato Herald. She joined NZME in 2021 and is based in Hamilton.