Holmes Group managing director Ryan Holmes, who is in the United States, said they were working with multiple potential tenants, including supermarkets but was not able to comment further on that at this stage.
He said work on the development would not be able to start until at least September next year when Sealed Air's lease expired.
"We believe it's an excellent outcome for Rotorua and it's creating jobs on that side of town... We put a lot of effort into coming up with an end use that wouldn't affect the CBD."
The resource consent will allow for a supermarket, cafe, restaurant, fastfood outlets, service station, trade retail, various medical and health services. There will be restrictions around specialised stores including food retailing, bookshops and pharmacies.
Specialised furniture retailers, electrical and electronic goods retailers, department stores, clothing and shoe stores will not be allowed to be set up. Bars, taverns and liquor stores will not be allowed as that was a condition of Lynmore School's support for the development. Poker machines or other gambling establishments will also not be allowed. However, Lotto will be allowed as either part of the supermarket or another retail outlet on site.
There will also be restrictions around establishing stores which have already been set up in Rotorua's CBD.
Traffic lights will be installed at the intersection of Te Ngae and Iles Rd.
In its decision the statutory hearings subcommittee said given the characteristics of the site and the future proposals for eastside, including the Rotorua Eastern Arterial the complex was consistent with the Rotorua District Plan.
In its decision the statutory hearings subcommittee said retail activities authorised by the consent had been limited so the development would not detract from the vitality and viability of the other centres and the CBD.
The council received 69 submissions to the proposal, with 54 in support, five providing conditional support, and nine opposed to the complex.
Concerns raised relating to traffic noise, visual impact and ongoing maintenance had been considered by the council. The statutory hearings subcommittee concluded that environmental effects of the operation could be mitigated through conditions of the consent to the extent that existing residential character opposite the site and industrial area surrounding the site would not be compromised and environmental effects were no more than minor.
The New Zealand Transport Agency supported the development as long as traffic lights were installed at the intersection of Te Ngae Rd and Iles Rd.
"It is acknowledged that the installation of traffic signals will affect travel times and may encourage traffic on to adjacent local roads. The capacity of the local roads is considered sufficient to cope with the increased traffic and traffic calming maybe required in the future," the statutory hearings subcommittee said.
According to the plan there will be two entries into the complex from Te Ngae Rd and two exits from the complex on to Te Ngae Rd. Submitters have until July 23 to appeal the decision.
