Lonestar in Petone heritage precinct draws ire

Some Petone residents are angry they are getting little say about the revamp of a building in the heritage precinct.  And they fear the planned Lonestar restaurant is part of a trend to turn Jackson Street into a Courtenay Place-style party strip.

One woman is worried her daughter's bedroom will be just metres from the bar of the Lonestar restaurant, to be built in the former Waiwhetu Medical Centre on the corner of Buick and Jackson Streets.

Others are concerned that construction of the bar/restaurant has started before a resource consent has been approved and fear it will alter the character of Petone's premier shopping area.

However, the Petone Lonestar's franchisee, Joe Whelan, says he's getting mainly positive responses to the $1.6-$1.7 million development.

"It will only enhance Jackson Street and the whole of Petone.  I'm looking forward to it being open."

Sue Brodie, who lives next to the development, is worried about potential disruption caused by "drunks pushing open (the fire exit) and staggering down" the lane beside her house. Her daughter's room is metres from the proposed restaurant's fire exit and function room, which has a late license until 3am.

She says the developers planned a large brick wall to block out the noise. However, this has now been scrapped and she is waiting to see the revised plans.

Monique Buurmans, who lives two doors away, says she has not been consulted as Hutt City Council does not consider her one of the affected parties. She is concerned the restaurant will see her regularly woken up at night with an "awful lot of noise (and) broken bottles.

"They smash them on the footpath (already on) Thursday, Friday, Saturday."

She also worries about her children's welfare, doubting whether she would send them to the dairy if people were outside drinking.

"We're happy for development to a certain degree, but it comes to a point; we don't want to be the next Courtenay Place."

Petone Planning Action Group chairperson Pam Hanna says she doesn't understand how construction on the interior has been allowed to start without full public notification.

"Even putting up new signage in the Jackson Street historic precinct requires resource consent, and what the appearance of this building (will be) is important for the integrity of Jackson Street as a whole."

She believes the process should involve the public because it poses a risk to the heritage and character of Petone.

"All residents need to be given an opportunity to express any concerns they may rightly have about residential amenity values, parking, hours of operating and noise issues, for example, that may result from such a development."

The building requires resource consent as it fails to comply with certain aspects of the District Plan guidelines, but only two people are to be formally consulted - Mrs Brodie and one other. Nevertheless, other people are free to send in submissions.

Hutt City Council spokesman James Beban says the decision was made on 18 April that the resource consent will be 'limited notified' because officers have assessed the development's overall effects as 'minor'.  The site was already in use as commercial premises (doctors' surgery and an electronic repair outlet).

Interior work is permitted without a resource consent, Mr Beban says.

Hutt City Council website says people have 20 working days to make submissions before the council hears the application, with the whole process expected to take two months.

Another neighbour, accountant Brian Pike, says his only concern is the noise created by an outdoor bar, but he believes this will be limited.

He says he is happy with the development and that residents took on the risk of commercial developments when they purchased their homes.

A 3am late licence has been applied for, but franchisee Mr Whelan is unsure whether this will be granted.

He is disappointed with some neighbours' responses, insisting it will not be a nightclub.

"We're not going to be open until 3am every night."

There are plans to build a "tasteful retaining wall" between the restaurant and neighbours' properties to give them privacy.

He describes the outdoor section as "not a large, large area, but there to facilitate smokers".

Lonestar franchises manager Shane Hausler says they have a history of working with communities to preserve a building's heritage while improving its surroundings.

He expects the restaurant will open in early August.