Minaret Property Investments Ltd had applied for resource consent to convert a former car yard at 272 Andersons Bay Rd into separate Thirsty Liquor and Hell Pizza stores, as well as a G.J. Gardner Homes contractors office.
The proposal for commercial activity in an industrial zone was publicly notified but attracted no submissions.
That was despite being a non-complying activity under the council's district plan, and despite the comments of a Dunedin City Council planner, who voiced concerns the area was already reaching a "tipping point" between industrial and retail activity.
However, a written decision signed by council hearings committee chairman Cr Colin Weatherall - dated March 29 but received yesterday - granted consent for the project.
The committee accepted the impact of the development would be no more than minor "in all respects", and was in keeping with the district plan, the decision read.
That was because retail activity in the industrial-zoned area had already "reached a critical mass where it [retail] now dominates", it said.
The new development would therefore not be out of keeping with other parts of Andersons Bay Rd, it said.
Any precedent set would also be "very limited" as there were no other parts of the city with industrial zoning that were already dominated by retail activity, it said.
The new development would also allow the sustainable use of the site, but resource consent came with nine conditions, including one limiting vehicle access to Andersons Bay Rd and not from Strathallan St.
