A consent allowing a developer to build 20 new bedrooms on a Pitt St property could set a precedent in the city centre and should be declined, a city council planner says.
Dean Hollebon has applied for a resource consent to build four new five-bedroom units at the back of his Pitt St property.
The four new three-storey units would each include a kitchen and each bedroom would include an en suite.
There is already a 12-bedroom heritage building on the site and in 2016 resource consent was granted for a three-storey building comprising 22 bedrooms each with their own en suite and one communal kitchen.
The planned buildings exceed the permitted density and car parking requirements in the Dunedin City Council's district plan.
Mitigation measures, such as water tanks, sediment and erosion controls have been included in the design of the units to lessen their impact.
Mr Hollebon was unable to be contacted yesterday.
In her report, council planner Lianne Darby recommended the consent be declined because the number of people potentially living on the property would exceed density rules, strain the surrounding storm and wastewater infrastructure and increase the noise and flow of people coming to and from the property.
A precedent could also be set if consent was granted for five accommodation buildings on a site large enough for only two, she said.
Four submissions were received on the consent: one in support, one against and two neutral.
Marilyn Innes opposed the application because she was concerned it would set a precedent for very high density living in a residential area and worried the building could be used for Airbnb-style accommodation.
The application was supported by neighbouring property owner, the McDonald Family Trust.
Heritage New Zealand was neutral about the application but recommended an archaeological assessment was done before any earthworks started.
A consent hearing will be held on May 30.
