A proposed refurbishment of the Tap in Arrowtown will be discussed by the Queenstown Lakes District Council utilities committee at its meeting in Queenstown tomorrow.
Mertha Investments Ltd has applied for resource consent to upgrade the existing historic building, on the corner of Wiltshire and Buckingham Sts, subdivide the existing garden bar, erect another small building and undertake extensive landscaping.
The report for the utilities committee, prepared by QLDC transport manager Denis Mander and urban designer Nick Karlovsky said for the most part the proposal was being dealt with by Lakes Environmental through normal resource consent processes.
The proposal envisaged works in Buckingham and Wiltshire Sts and Romans Lane and an ongoing activity on Buckingham St requiring council approval.
The key considerations were the narrowing of a carriageway and associated removal of parking along a section of Wiltshire St; the establishment of angle parking to replace a section of parallel parking, also on Wiltshire St; and the extension of site activity on to the street - elevated above street level and separated from the footpath by planting - and the use of this area of outdoor seating.
The report said the narrowing of the carriageway would affect the arrangement of parking, but the introduction of angle parking would have the effect of slowing traffic movements as vehicles manoeuvred in and out of parking spaces.
"The slowing of traffic in this area is not inappropriate given the large number of pedestrians in this area."
The Arrowtown Advisory Group submitted if angle parking could work and if vehicle speeds could be reduced "we support this".
"We recognise that passengers alighting from coaches in the coach park often wander across the street in front of traffic and any measures, excluding road markings/zebra crossings that could alleviate this situation, are supported.
"If the proposed verge width has to be redesigned to incorporate turning traffic, then this is understandable, so long as the intention of the landscaping remains.
"We understand this to be traffic calming, safety for pedestrians, better amenity and better street life, i.e. people sitting outside at tables."
The report said the proposed changes had no effect on the level of parking and the proposal would not increase the "difficulty" for vehicles using the intersection.
Streetscaping works were in "general accord" with the Arrowtown Design Guidelines, preserving a "soft street edge character".
However, the proposed extension of the outdoor seating terrace into the street reserve, would form "an incursion into the streetscape".
"Although this would clearly be subject to a ground lease, in spatial terms it captures an area of public space for private benefit as illustrated by the footpath needing to step out around it.
"It would create a desirable sunny alcove, but this factor needs to be weighed against the very obvious privatisation of public space," the report said.
However, the applicant had identified the outdoor seating extension was not an "essential component" of the proposal and if it were not pursued the area could be a grass verge at street level, with opportunities for outdoor tables and chairs.
The committee will be asked to recommend the proposal be accepted subject to the removal of the terrace extension; the removal of the short paved link between Wiltshire St and the carriageway; and installation of "measures" to ensure the usable width of the footpath on Wiltshire St is at least 1.5m.
