McDonald's move "tricky"

Balmoral residents opposing a new McDonald’s restaurant in the suburb are surprised at a plan by the fast food giant to go green.

McDonald’s has applied for a certificate of compliance to build a 510-square metre fruit and vegetable store on its proposed restaurant site.

A company spokeswoman says it has no intention to build the produce store but if the Auckland City Council approves the compliance it would be used as a baseline for how much activity is allowed on the site.

She says the vegetable store, which would be open 6am to 10pm six days a week, would comply with the site zoning under the district plan and wouldn’t need resource consent.

"The purpose of this is to review and understand what is an appropriate and legitimate level of activity on our site in Balmoral under its existing commercial zoning, which can provide a useful benchmark as part of the assessment process," she says.

Balmoral Says No spokesman Nathan Inkpen says the move is "tricky".

"Once they get consent they will change it to a restaurant with a 24-hour drive-thru. The effects would be measured between what they have been permitted to build and what they are going to build."

The group believes if McDonald’s gets approval for the shop it will argue the restaurant has only marginally more activity than what has already been allowed.

The proposed restaurant would front Balmoral Rd and Wiremu St, with 63 carparks and a 10-metre sign by the Balmoral Rd entrance.

Council resource consents manager Ian Smallburn says it will take about a month to decide on the compliance.

A date has not yet been set for the resource consent hearing and Mr Inkpen says it is unlikely to be this year.

"It’s gone on for 18 months – a victory for the local residents. In Pt Chevalier, the McDonald’s was consented and operating within 12 months."

The group is still raising money to fight the development.

Go to www.balmoralsaysno.org.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News