Public views sought on smaller shops at Megacentre

The Hastings District Council will publicly notify a resource consent application by Charter Hall to reduce the floor size of four of the seven remaining stores to be built at THE PARK megacentre site in Karamu Road.

Site developer, Charter Hall has submitted a resource consent application that requests the floor area of stores in the proposed buildings, be reduced from the required 1000 square metres to between 500 and 670 square metres. If approved, it would see the buildings contain seven stores instead of the four currently allowed. This would mean a total of ten new stores could be located on the site in the future, with only three of them retaining a floor size, over 1000 square metres.

These stores are in addition to the three which are already completed or under construction.

Council has completed its consideration of the notification decision for the consent application and has determined that the public should have the opportunity to provide input into the decision making process.

Environmental Consents Manager Katrina Brunton says” The adverse effects of the application to reduce the floor area of stores still to be built on THE PARK site is ‘likely to be or will be more than minor’ and it’s therefore important that the public is given the opportunity to make a submission.”

A period of 20 working days will be allowed for submissions. Depending on the submissions received, the process could then include a pre hearing or it may go straight to a formal hearing.

A copy of the decision to publicly notify this application and other supporting material can be found at www.hastingsdc.govt.nz