Parking again up for debate

The demand for on-street parking in a residential part of Wanaka is again up for debate at a resource consent hearing.

Varina Proprietary Ltd, represented by lawyer Phil Page, is applying to the Queenstown Lakes District Council to change the way it operates its Peak Function Centre in Upton St, sell liquor to patrons and use four nearby houses for visitor accommodation.

Independent commissioners Jane Taylor and Andrew Henderson began hearing the application yesterday.

They are also hearing the application for a community house on the St Columba Anglican Church land in nearby McDougall St.

That hearing was adjourned last month because of a parking issue.

Varina, whose sole director is Duffy Krook, was previously granted consent for the function centre but has had a disagreement with the council over who could use it.

The council considered only Varina's house guests could use the centre while Varina believed it was entitled to use it for other people not staying in-house.

The current application is intended to resolve the issue of who could use the function centre.

Varina also wants to increase the ‘‘cap'' on beds from 48 to 88.

Transport engineer Andrew Carr gave evidence to the hearing yesterday in relation to the parking issue.

Mr Carr said it was ‘‘undoubtedly the case'' the operation of the function venue would result in a ‘‘significant increase'' in on-street parking.

While parking on site was ‘‘very limited'', and 17 spaces less than required under the district plan, he considered there was sufficient on-street parking available ‘‘without capacity or efficiency issues arising'', provided it was ‘‘appropriately managed''.

The community house hearing last month heard the nearby Anglican Church had not provided the 20 off-street car parks it was required to under an historic building permit.

And the community house proposal was also 17 off-street parks short of the number required under the district plan.

The hearing continues today with objectors expected to make submissions.

mark.price@odt.co.nz

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