Countdown OK despite rule breach

IAN ALLEN

A new Countdown supermarket will open in Redwoodtown despite breaching council planning regulations.

The Marlborough District Council has approved the 3500 square metre store at the corner of Weld St and Alabama Rd, which will replace the existing Countdown supermarket in Redwoodtown.

Approval came after an independent commissioner, Rachel Dunningham, working on behalf of the council, granted the resource consent for TH Barnes and Company Ltd last Wednesday after almost 15 months of consultation.

The Blenheim developer applied for permission to build the larger store for its tenant, Progressive Enterprises, which owns the Countdown chain. It will be built on land zoned as residential under the Wairau/Awatere Resource Management Plan.

At 9 metres high, the proposed building is 1.5 metres taller than is permitted in residential zones under the Wairau/Awatere Resource Management Plan, states the commissioner's report.

The report also recognises that noise levels from delivery trucks, forklifts, car park activity and machinery for refrigeration and air-conditioning would exceed district plan noise limits at weekends.

However, these breaches would "only have minor effects on residents in the area".

Redwoodtown residents raised further concerns during consultation in relation to parking and increased traffic in the area.

Byron Wheldale, who owns a house in Alabama Rd adjacent to the proposed site entrance, said yesterday the development would destroy his property.

Mr Wheldale attended the resource consent hearing in December. "I cannot understand why council would allow this. The building is way outside the height restrictions. Where we were looking out over the Wither Hills, we will be looking at a supermarket sign 24 hours a day. It's horrendous, our property has been totally devalued. Our main bedroom is directly opposite, only 15 metres away, from where delivery trucks will be coming in from 7am to 10pm seven days a week."

The existing 1575sqm shop, car park and adjacent garden centre, which are owned by TH Barnes, are located in a neighbourhood business zone.

TH Barnes chief executive John Smithies said the larger supermarket would be good for Redwoodtown and may spur further development.

Progressive Enterprises Ltd would not push forward with a development that they didn't see as positive, he said. The building contractor had carried out "extensive consultation to minimise the impact on residents".

Restrictions on delivery times had been agreed so as not to disturb Alabama Rd residents.

"We have provided extensive landscaping on site to soften the impact of building's height and we have agreed to install pedestrian islands between entry and exit lanes."

The proposed supermarket would require the demolition and removal of the garden centre and four adjacent residential dwellings owned by Redwood Development.

Mr Smithies said they had an agreement with Redwood Development to lease their land.

Marlborough District Council chief executive Andrew Besley owns a 5 per cent share in Redwood Development.

Mr Wheldale said this presented a conflict in interest.

However, Mr Besley refuted this claim saying he had no involvement in the resource consent process. "I have repeatedly declared a minor interest in that company [Redwood Development]," he said.

Alabama Rd resident Aaron Marshall said his concerns with regards traffic, noise and general appearance of the site were addressed by TH Barnes.

Mr Marshall organised a residents' meeting at St Christopher's Church Hall, opposite the existing Countdown, in October last year.

About six people turned up with no serious objections to the proposal, he said. "Basically we had the same concerns, but I'm happy with the way the process has been handled." TH Barnes and Company Ltd came to the party and addressed all my concerns sufficiently. They worked with us to achieve a mutual agreement."

An agreement was reached that truck drivers would not sit outside the supermarket with their engines running, he said.

Building work could start around mid-year depending on the design process, Mr Smithies said.

- The Marlborough Express