On the second day of commissioner hearings into plan change 13 (to the Central Otago District Council's operative district plan) yesterday, Mr Meehan made the analogy as a way to describe how his 900-house and lot development would sell many more lots at a much more affordable price than other housing development projects in Cromwell.
''McDonald's knows it will outsell the local hamburger shop 100 to one, even if it is right next door to the Mum and Pop takeaway.
''Why does that happen? It is the same product but McDonald's is a trusted well-known brand, with a well-developed, well-engineered and well-marketed product that, whether you like it or not, is always delivered with consistency and at the right price point.''
In his evidence before commissioners Gary Rae (chairman), Gavin Lister and David McMahon, in Cromwell yesterday, Mr Meehan said if the plan change was consented the development would compete directly with the other current residential developments in Cromwell, the Gair Ave development and the Top 10 Holiday Park development.
He said the River Terrace development would deliver truly affordable house-and-land packages to the market ''which neither of these two developments are delivering.''
Mr Meehan said his company had made an initial commitment to the 200 completed homes and sections in stage one but he was ''happy'' for that to be codified into the plan change.
''Such that if I don't do it within a year or two years the plan change gets reversed and you can take the entire approval away from me.''
Mr Meehan said the proposed River Terrace site, 3km from the town centre, could be good because many new home owners would be likely to work in Queenstown and that would shorten their commute.
On the issue of noise from the adjacent Highland Motorsport Park Mr Meehan said it was inconceivable that someone wanting to buy a River Terrace house would not know about the noise.
''Given the demographic I think a lot of buyers will see the motor racing aspect as a positive, I think you'll find them over there watching the race.''
Mr Meehan said his company was very committed to addressing the housing shortage in Cromwell but if the plan change was not consented he would ''simply carve it up into rural residential lots and move on.''
The hearing continues.
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Comments
It may be inconceivable that people buying property near the motorsport complex are not aware of potential noise. However it is equally not inconceivable that some people will still complain about that noise and attempt to curtail activities at the complex.
This has occurred so many times before that you can almost be guaranteed to happen at this site. You don't have to go far from Cromwell to see this happening right now with Queenstown airport.
The development either needs to be refused or permanent covenants placed on the land to ensure people can never complain about noise.