The future of a planned new business park in Portsmouth Dr, in Dunedin, is unresolved, despite resource consent being granted for the proposal.
The consent decision was announced this week, but with strict limits on the sort of businesses allowed, and the applicant is seeking further details, and considering the possibility of appealing to the Environment Court.
Invercargill businessman Colin Clay took his plan to develop a business park with possible liquor, wholesale fruit and vegetable, and takeaway food outlets, a medical centre and industrial activities, on the corner of Portsmouth Dr and Orari St, to a Dunedin City Council resource consent hearing last month.
Those opposing the plan argued it was a retail development in an industrial-zoned area, in a city where industrial land was at a premium, but Mr Clay's planning consultant, Keith Hovell, said there was plenty of retail and other activities already in the area.
The plan attracted opposition from major supermarket outlets.
Foodstuffs and Progressive Enterprises were among opponents who called for the application to be declined, and a Dunedin council planner recommended the same.
The resource consent committee of Dunedin city councillors Colin Weatherall, Andrew Noone and Richard Walls decided the wide range of uses proposed included some activities better located within other zones.
There was already a takeaway food outlet on the site, which the committee considered acceptable, but fruit and vegetable retailing, a liquor outlet and a medical centre were not considered acceptable.
The committee decided industrial, service and specified retail activities only could be developed at the site, and it gave a list of 11 activities, including bathroom, electrical, building, engineering, industrial clothing and agricultural supplies and sales.
Mr Hovell said although there was a right of appeal, "at this stage we really haven't made the call".
It was his intention to talk further to the council about the decision, he said.
There were aspects that were unclear and needed to be understood.
Asked if he would appeal, Mr Hovell said he did not want to prejudice the situation "in either direction".
