McKeown Group is applying to the Ashburton council for resource consent to build and operate a fuel facility with associated landscaping and signage on the high profile site on the corner of Racecourse Road and State Highway 1.
The proposed fuel facility will provide 91 Unleaded, Premium 95 Unleaded, and Diesel fuel, as well as GoClear diesel exhaust fluid.
The forecourt will feature three pump islands allowing six dispenser locations and the fuel facilities will be located under a 5.77m high canopy.
A motorhome dump station, to be connected to the council's reticulated wastewater system, is also proposed on the northern side of the fuel facility.
The proposal involves one access to Racecourse Road and two accesses to State Highway 1, all two-way.
The applicant says the proposal is expected to trade at the same or similar levels to the McKeown site in Portsmouth Drive, Dunedin at around 9 million litres per year in sales.
The Portsmouth Drive site carries around 11,500 vehicles per day, a similar volume to what occurs on State Highway 1 in Ashburton.
The proposed fuel facility is a commercial activity in a residential zone.
It will not comply with zone standard hours of operation because it will be open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
There are also issues with sight distances and proposed signs at the site.
A resource consent was granted in 2017 for a non-complying activity to occupy the site.
The approved activity was for two businesses; a tractor and farm machinery sales and services business (JJ Ltd) to be located in the southern corner of the site, and a rural-related sales and service facility.
The proposed fuel facility will replace the JJ Ltd building, but the rural merchandiser and services outlet is still proposed to be constructed on the site. Submissions on the application close at 5pm on October 17.
More information at the ashburtondc.govt.nz website.
