An artist's impression of what the future Ōmokoroa Town Centre could look like. Photo/ File
An artist's impression of what the future Ōmokoroa Town Centre could look like. Photo/ File
An application for a $75 million commercial and residential hub in Ōmokoroa is in the hands of three independent commissioners hearing evidence this week.
Jace Investments Ltd is seeking resource consent for an Ōmokoroa Town centre.
It is for the establishment of a mixed-use retail and commercial precinct with mediumdensity residential units, and visitor accommodation at 404 Omokoroa Rd.
The land includes about 5.3ha of commercial-zoned land and is the last undeveloped site in the main Ōmokoroa commercial zone.
Another 2.5ha has been zoned for future urban land.
Independent hearing commissioners Jan Caunter, who lives in Tauranga, and David Mead and David Hill from Auckland, began hearing evidence in relation to the resource consent application yesterday
.
The commissioners had conducted a preliminary site visit and had a second planned yesterday afternoon.
Vanessa Hamm, the lawyer representing the developer, told the commissioners Jace had a strong track record in delivering orchard, post-orchard and construction projects, and was "thrilled" to promote the development as a legacy project.
"This resource consent application presents an exciting opportunity to deliver the long-held aspirations of the Ōmokoroa community for a town centre - a vision articulated in the district plan."
Hamm said the proposed town centre would result in significant economic benefits for the Ōmokoroa community and there was strong support for the project within the wider community.
The orchard site where the $75m proposed town centre would be established by the Jace Group. Photo / File
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council had also withdrawn its opposition, Hamm said.
Jace's director Craig Lemon said the commissioners could have confidence in the company's credentials.
"Firstly we are not fly-by-nighters. We [have been] entrenched in these types of business activities for many years.
"We are not investors from out of town who come in and clip the ticket then bugger off."
Lemon said as much as Jace was a business, this was a people-focused legacy project and something Jace wanted to leave with the community.
"We just want to work collaboratively with the council and the community going forward."
Lemon said they were keen to get on with the project, which would be done in stages starting with the road and services in August if consent was granted.
Lemon said demand would help drive the speed of the other stages.
He told the commissioners Jace had already received a variety of registrations of interest from people keen to be part of the development.
Commissioner Hill said he was concerned whether Jace was firm on its master plan.
"Our intent is to stick to this plan through to completion per the design," Lemon said.
Ōmokoroa resident Ailsa Fisher said she generally supported the proposal.
However, Fisher, who works as a town planner, believed the developer could do more in terms of creating a legacy project.
This including reducing car parking spaces, more attractive landscaping and adding a stormwater management regime to reduce stormwater runoff from the site.
Fisher also said that she would like to see the main street pedestrianised or at least be a shared space.
Her concern was a road down the middle of the centre would "reduce the effectiveness of a vibrant, sustainable, people-focused environment".
Ōmokoroa Residents and Ratepayers Association chairman Bruce McCabe said the Association supported the consent application.
"We do this because of the clear public support voice for this proposal during a public meeting held with Jace in June last year and re-design of the town centre that Jace has undertaken to address concerns raised by Kaimai Views residents."
McCabe said he and the association also supported the project because it would contribute to the development and "self-sufficiency" of the Ōmokoroa community.
He said it would also help increase employment opportunities and reduce the need to travel to access vital retail and other services.
