Commissioners reserve Meadowstone decision

Prime Minster Helen Clark
Prime Minster Helen Clark
The neighbours of a proposed 20-unit visitor accommodation complex located within the heart of a residential suburban community in Wanaka continue to insist it will be a "large motel."

Wanaka holiday home owner Warwick Thompson told independent commissioners John Matthews and Gillian Macleod during a resource consent hearing yesterday the proposed Meadowstone Villas complex on Hyland St should not be used for visitor accommodation.

The number of visitors would adversely impact on residential activity and the local neighbourhood community.

Opposing submitters have claimed Willowridge Ltd, a company directed by Wanaka property developer Allan Dippie, is being sneaky.

It had entered into and completed construction of the first seven units in the complex fully aware such an activity as visitor accommodation needed consent.

The completed villas and the granted building consent for a further 10 units were a "self-fulfilling prophecy", designed specifically to meet the purpose of a visitor accommodation complex.

Regardless of any strict legal definition under the council's district plan there was an element of Willowridge applying retrospectively for visitor accommodation consent, he said.

Mr Matthews said there was no suggestion of improper conduct by Mr Dippie, yet he understood the argument of the neighbours who wanted to see "all the cards on the table".

Another opposing neighbour and Meadowstone holiday home owner Jean Nelson said the site was originally earmarked as a village green.

The plans had changed as the subdivision had grown, she said.

Willowridge counsel Jan Caunter said in her right of reply that the decision to apply for visitor accommodation was genuine and driven by market demand.

Willowridge had applied for notified consent to give neighbours the chance to comment and submit on the proposal.

However, Mr Thompson said the whole development and its eventual use by prospective owners was complete conjecture.

It was ludicrous to think a body corporate arrangement of rules "cobbled together by Mr Dippie over lunch", would be enforceable in the future.

Mr Matthews said granting consent could mean results at either end of the spectrum, including - in the worst outcome for opposing submitters - a major hotel chain buying all of the units and operating them as such.

Alternatively, 20 people from the outlying regions of Otago and Southland could buy the individual units for holiday homes.

The commissioners adjourned the hearing and reserved their decision.

 

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