The Central Otago District Council has declined consent for a plan to establish a hunting and fishing retail store at Freeway Orchard, near Cromwell.
Central Otago Hunting and Fishing's application to establish and operate a store at that location, on rural resource-zoned land, attracted 34 submissions, with opinion evenly divided - 17 submissions for and 17 against.
A hearing was held on November 20 and the council's decision was released yesterday.
Director of the applicant company, Scott Kunac, of Dunedin, declined comment until he had more time to study the decision.
A new barn-style building was planned for the hunting and fishing store, complete with a secure gun room.
The range of activities already on site included a fruit stall, fruit packing facility, juice processing and a cafe.
In the council's decision, council planning manager Louise van der Voort said the proposal was for a retail activity which could be accommodated within the business resource area of the town.
"The council's conclusion is that the proposal will have a significant adverse effect in terms of fragmenting retail activity at Cromwell and in terms of travel demand management, as well as having adverse cumulative effects on the landscape and visual amenity, resulting from the expansion of the existing complex at Freeway orchard," she said.
The proposal went against the relevant objectives and policies of the district plan.
If granted, it would set a precedent and similar applications could be made for retail activity next to other large fruit stall developments around Cromwell, Ms van der Voort said.
The council's planning consultant David Whitney had recommended the application be declined.
