Giving evidence on day two of a hearing, Brian Mayo-Smith said it welcomed plans put forward by Lakes Edge Developments Ltd to build The Terraces Hotel on land behind the Hilton Queenstown and DoubleTree hotels, owned by KVHL.
"It is a pretty ugly scar on the rock face and it does need to be developed. We are not opposed to a hotel; our concerns are about the scale and size of a hotel. It has continually pushed the boundaries ... trying to cram as many rooms as possible into the size of the site."
Opening proceedings, chairwoman Jan Cauter and commissioner Lee Beattie said they were seeking legal advice from the Queenstown Lakes District Council on the limited-notified nature of the consent.
However, Ms Cauter said the hearing should continue, given that outcome was unknown.
Mr Mayo-Smith raised concerns over an "inadequate parking supply", height breaches and problems over congestion on Alpine Lakes Dr.
He also disputed evidence put forward by urban design and architectural consultant Gerald Barratt-Boyes on behalf of the applicant company, which is owned by Queenstown developer Chris Meehan.
The applicant claimed existing rock anchors "significantly restrict any ability to excavate within the site". As a result, foundation options were limited and no basement could be created to provide for parking. But Mr Mayo-Smith, one of four called to submit evidence for KVHL, said any reasonable due diligence prior to purchase would have recognised this. Alternative engineering solutions should have been sought and questioned if the applicant had "adequately investigated" these. The issue of parking was a recurring theme at the hearing. Manager of the Hilton and DoubleTree hotels Christopher Ehmann, who lives in an apartment on Lakes Dr, described existing parking as a "nightmare" and said the situation would get worse if consent was granted under current plans.
On Monday, counsel Warwick Goldsmith, on behalf of the applicant, asked the commissioners to acknowledge KVHL was a "trade competitor". Lakes Edge has already been granted resource consent for 21 apartments and six townhouses above the planned hotel.
The hearing was adjourned.
