Delivered
An artist’s impression of a proposed change to the Showgrounds Hill permission that would allow a building to be raised from one level to two.
An effort to change the funds consent terms for the large retail complex on Timaru’s Showgrounds Hill has stalled with the developer being told to get Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency approval for some of the proposed variations.
As a result, the application for amendment of the environmental permit, submitted to the Timaru District Council in Mayhas been suspended by the municipality until further information can be provided.
“The clock will be stopped in the consent process until this information is provided by the applicant,” said Stephen Doran, the council’s communications manager.
One of the desired changes is to create one of three single-storey buildings in phase one, adjacent to Evans St/State Highway 1, double-storey.
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The Timaru Herald understands that part of this building was leased to the Lone Star franchise nationwide†
The Council has asked the developer, Redwood Group, to reassess the requested amendment to the two-storey building proposal, which would bring the upper level within 1.5m of the trunk road and possibly less, as a parapet sunblind/screen on the building will be confirmed .
The Council’s response states that the District Plan specifies “a construction setback of a minimum depth of 5 m is required from the edge of the road and from any sign in place for the purpose of road widening.”
The Council said the width of the parapet awning/screen on the building is 1.5m in the proposed plans, which would extend to the border of the state highway.
Delivered
An artist’s impression shows proposed changes to the building in the Showgrounds Hill shopping complex.
The reply, prepared for the council by John Cook, of Planning Solutions Limited, says the proposed changes could adversely affect Waka Kotahi, which is responsible for the State Highway network, and confirmed that the Crown entity has the status of “affected person”. †
“It is therefore required that you obtain the consent of their concerned persons to handle this particular matter.”
The municipality has also asked the developer for more information about the intended enlargement of the pylon signage.
The amendment request proposes to increase the two pre-approved Type A pylon boards by 1 m in height (up to 15 m) and 1.7 m (up to 5.7 m) in width.
The industrial zone rule of the neighborhood plan states that the maximum permitted building height in the zone is 12 meters.
JOHN BISSET/Things
The development of the Showgrounds Hill development building, as pictured on June 22.
The Council said, on this basis and given that the already approved 14m high pylon boards will be 2m higher, adding another 1m height will allow viewing of this structure from well outside the subject.
“Based on a Google Maps/Street View study, I suspect that even at 14 meters high, this will be the tallest structure in this immediate urban location,” Cook said.
The municipality has asked what situation has arisen that has resulted in the desired increase of the mastboard height by another metre.
The developer has also been asked whether the two revised pylon signs will be illuminated, and whether that would be internal or external.
Delivered
An impression of the new Lone Star Building proposed during the Showgrounds Hill development.
The Council noted that the revised layout has concentrated most of the proposed restaurant floors in the northwest portion of the development.
“Given that this part of the overall development is currently underway as ‘Phase 1’, please provide more information to ensure compliance with the various provisions in the District Plan Rule… (restaurants).”
Cook’s letter to the developer states that once the requested information has been provided and accepted by the council, it will be able to determine whether or not to report this change request.
BEJON HASWELL/ THINGS/Things
Timaru CBD Group Chairman Allan Booth said the group is concerned that requests to change land use permissions for development are underway. (File photo)
In May, following news that the developer had applied to change its resource permissions, Timaru CBD Group chairman Allan Booth and Timaru Town Center Ratepayers’ Action Group spokesman Shaun Stockman expressed concern about the impact of any changes on the environment. CBD.
Booth said the CBD group believed requests to change land use permissions would be underway, “allowing death by a thousand cuts to our CBD.”
Joseph Johnson/things
Shaun Stockman, spokesman for the Timaru Town Center Ratepayers’ Action Group, said any change to resource consent would be a “huge pimple” for the integrity of the town. (File photo)
Stockman described any change to the resource consent as a “huge blot on the integrity of the Timaru District Council”.
“The terms have been put in place to protect the core of CBD, and it is now quite clear that it is up to the Timaru District Council to protect the CBD.
“They have to keep their word and promise,” he said.