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People power has stopped a developer from turning the former Logan Campbell Motor Lodge in Greenlane into 116 apartments and a 100-bed boutique hotel.
In a rare decision, planning commissioners have refused an application for consent by Marlin Group to overhaul the renamed Kingsgate Hotel Greenlane near Cornwall Park after hundreds of submissions opposing the "monstrosity".
The commissioners - David Chandler, Jen Livingstone and Auckland City councillors Glenda Fryer and Faye Storer - said the proposed buildings were out of scale with the area, would shade several adjoining properties and lead to the loss of several large trees fronting Campbell Rd.
A council spokeswoman could not give any other recent examples of a large-scale commercial/residential notified development being knocked back.
Marlin is considering whether to appeal. Development manager Glenn Metcalf could not be reached for comment.
Local resident and former All Whites soccer star Fred de Jong was delighted at the decision but expected Marlin to appeal or submit new plans.
Mr de Jong said locals were not opposed to the 1.7ha site being redeveloped to include a hotel and apartments but strongly objected to the size and bulk of what was proposed and flow-on effects such as shading, parking and noise. The residential 6a zoning for the site allowed for 46 apartments, he said.
At a hearing in November, planner Martin Green said Marlin had reduced the number of apartments from 139 to 116 and said the effects from construction work, traffic and parking and work on trees would be minor.
Professor Clinton Bird, a member of the council's urban design panel who reviewed the development for Marlin, said the buildings were not overly dominant, shading would be minor and the final design was good.
Marlin is also behind plans to turn the old DYC vinegar factory in Ponsonby into a retail, office and apartment development.
After almost all the 222 submitters opposed the Soho Square development in late 2005, Marlin submitted new plans to the council, which will be publicly notified, possibly next month.
It is understood the design has been significantly modified to address urban design issues. For example high buildings have been moved into the middle of the 1.3ha site to reduce the impact on nearby heritage buildings.
The council has received 546 submissions about another controversial development of 203 apartments at 228 Orakei Rd. Locals have formed the Orakei Residents' Society to oppose the development and developer Tony Gapes' plan to build about 400 apartments on the water's edge at Orakei.
Mr Gapes - who former Mayor John Banks said had some of the worst developments in Auckland to his name - said he was planning a "world-class urban development" that would be upmarket and attractive.
