The development of a proposed 85-space carpark by the CBD in Queenstown has hit a barrier.
A Queenstown planner has recommended not to proceed, despite the Queenstown Lakes District Council streetscaping project causing a loss of much needed carparking.
Wilson Parking NZ Ltd earlier this year proposed the development of a carpark — for a maximum five years — on a stretch of scruffy land at the corner of Frankton Rd and Brisbane St.
Ahead of a resource consent hearing on July 24, council planner Lisa Bos has recommended commissioners refuse consent, after receiving objections from Brisbane St neighbours.
"I consider this proposal will result in unacceptable adverse effects on the character and amenity of the neighbourhood and its values presently enjoyed by owners and occupiers in the receiving environment," she wrote in the recommendation.
Specifically, she was not satisfied that Wilson Parking NZ Ltd had provided enough information about how it would reduce dust arising from the carpark’s gravel surface.
She also challenged the applicant’s argument that noise levels would be indiscernible.
"The concentrated presence of vehicles, accompanied by activities such as engine start-ups, car alarms, doors closing, movement on the gravel surface and the generation of traffic, contributes to elevated noise levels."
Ms Bos said adjacent owners and occupiers would also be exposed to headlight glare from the coming and going of vehicles, especially as the carpark would run 24/7.
She did note, under "positive effects", the carpark would "alleviate a demonstrated shortfall in local parking and support local businesses".
However, she said, "in my opinion, the positive effects do not outweigh the adverse effects".
But she conceded the effects on neighbours would be decreased, "if the scale of the activity was reduced", further conditions of consent were offered and a carpark management plan was provided.
Under the draft recommended conditions of consent, she suggested restricting the carpark’s hours to between 7am and 9pm.
Earlier this year, former mayor Lorraine Cooper expressed concerns over the loss of carparks due to recent CBD streetscaping.
"Unless something is done urgently to find areas for parking close to or in the CBD, fewer and fewer people will want to come into Queenstown," she said.
The Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce’s submission on the draft parking strategy also called for "urgent progress" on CBD parking improvements.
"Hundreds of carparks have been removed from the Queenstown CBD without replacement, causing frustration for businesses, locals, workers and visitors trying to get access to the CBD," it said.
The chamber suggested fast-track consents to allow available land, suitable for parking, should be put in place quickly.
