Residents may appeal restaurant

Some of the Mosgiel residents living next door to a proposed McDonald's restaurant say they are considering appealing, after hearing on Christmas Eve the Dunedin City Council had granted land-use consent.

The restaurant site, a long, narrow section on Hartstonge Ave, lies between the New World supermarket and a complex of 17 privately-owned houses and flats which have been built within the past three years.

The Mosgiel library and playground are immediately opposite.

The land is zoned large-scale retail, but residents had been told more houses were to be built there, a belief backed up by a 2005 Dunedin City Council consent granting permission for residential development.

Residents opposing the McDonald's development said the site was too small to accommodate a restaurant and were concerned about the negative impacts of increased traffic, increased night-time noise and the possibility of the area being a magnet for disruptive young people.

Malcolm Anngow said on Thursday the decision was an unpleasant Christmas present.

"It's not nice to have this dropped on our lap on Christmas Eve. There'll be no Santa at our place this year."

Submitters have 15 working days to lodge an appeal against a consent decision.

Because of the Christmas holiday break, the deadline for appeals on this decision is January 26.

Mr Anngow said he would spend his Christmas break considering his options before deciding whether to appeal.

"We, like most residents, are disillusioned by many of the council's recent decisions, including this one . . . The consent process was fair and we were treated courteously, but they haven't listened to us."

A family member, who did not want to be named, summed up her feelings: "McDonald's - I'm not lovin' it."

Resident Shelley Ross said she was "brassed off, but resigned".

"I expected this decision. I had a feeling the city council was going to grant it no matter what."

She said she would like to appeal but that might not be possible because of the cost.

Rose Doyle, who bought her flat 18 months ago, said she was "not impressed" and would consider whether it was worthwhile appealing the decision.

The restaurant car park will be immediately over her rear fence.

She said she understood the restaurant site was zoned residential and the real estate agent who sold her property did not tell her it was large-scale retail.

Residents were pleased the restaurant's opening hours had been reduced but believed McDonald's might seek 24-hour trading in the future.

Another neighbour, Lex Key, said she was "quite agreeable" to the restaurant proposal, especially because of the consent conditions imposed.

"I'm happy about the reduced opening hours, the reduced size of the signage, the building of an acoustic wall and the fact there will be no outdoor dining.

"For a long time, I have been concerned about the untidy condition of the block. I have been picking up a bag of rubbish a day. I think a restaurant with landscaping will improve the appearance of the area."

In its decision, the consent committee - Crs Colin Weatherall (chairman), Andrew Noone and Paul Hudson and Mosgiel Taieri Community Board member Bill Feather - considered any actual or potential adverse effects on the environment would be "acceptable".