The Otago Foundation Trust Board and Wakatipu Presbyterian Church applied to construct a new church, hall, indoor court and identify two residential building platforms for manses and 130 car parks on the 8ha Frankton-Ladies Mile site, near the Hawthorne Dr roundabout on State Highway 6.
The second stage contemplates the construction of short-term accommodation, affordable housing for young families and independent living units for seniors.
Yesterday, planner Andrew Woodford told commissioners David Whitney and Rachel Dimery subject to appropriate conditions he believed consent could be granted.
However, lawyer Graeme Todd, representing neighbouring landowner Alpine Investments Ltd, opposed the proposal, primarily due to concerns about future internal access from his client's site not provided for in the church plans.
Access to the church site was about 70m west of the Hawthorne Dr roundabout - proposed to be moved further west, and access to Alpine Investments' site was further west again.
The NZ Transport Agency indicated a raised median strip from the roundabout would be extended past the church's relocated access to avoid right-turn movements being attempted across the state highway, which would also prevent Alpine Investments from making a right-turn out.
Mr Todd said should his clients choose to develop the site commercially, the existing access would no longer be suitable and there was no provision for an alternative.
Mr Todd said the situation on the Frankton Flats was ''a bit of a moving feast'' and ''becoming a bit of an issue'', particularly in respect to the capacity of the Hawthorne Dr roundabout.
A resource consent hearing for Bunnings was scheduled early next year for its site on the Frankton Flats, where the Shotover Garden Centre is at present.
Bunnings proposed all traffic from the south and west would go around the Hawthorne Dr roundabout to enter Bunnings from the rear.
He suggested any decision the commissioners made would pre-empt decisions on the proposed district plan, expected to be issued in April.
''The question I have for you, is that sound planning, given that you know that the decisions are only a very short period away?''
Alpine Investments also had concerns relating to visual effects, given no landscaping had been proposed for the northern boundary between its site and the proposed church.
Lawyer Jayne MacDonald, on behalf of the applicant, said consenting the church development would not compromise or constrain access to Alpine Investments' site and access could still be provided. However, at present it would be ''a road to nowhere''.
She proposed to file amended conditions by the end of this week for the commissioners to consider.
