Neighbours worried the sounds of chainsaws will spoil their peace and quiet are objecting to a proposed new Stihl Shop in the main street of Mosgiel.
Smith Saw and Mower Service Ltd has applied to the Dunedin City Council for land use consent to establish an outdoor power equipment and service store, trading as Stihl Shop, on a site in Gordon Rd.
The application was considered by the council's hearings committee - chaired by Cr Richard Walls - in Dunedin yesterday, with a report by council planner Jeremy Grey recommending that consent for the store be granted.
The store would offer chainsaw and mower sales and repairs on a residential zone site next to a block of six flats.
However, Mr Grey's report also noted the area was largely commercial in nature, with the store to be built near existing businesses Gee's Takeaways, Mosgiel Repco and Barry Cottle Motors.
Three neighbours objected to the development, saying the noise from running chainsaws and other equipment would reverberate into their homes.
They also objected to the fumes, nuisance, increased traffic and pressure on parking the store could create.
Others contacted during a period of limited notification had consented to the store's development, Mr Grey's report said.
The store would be a non-complying activity under the council's district plan, but steps would be taken to minimise disturbance, including noise limits and the testing and tuning of machines within a soundproofed room.
The committee asked for more information at the end of yesterday's hearing, and once that was received was expected to issue a decision within 15 working days, Cr Walls said.
