The cost of a proposed new building in central Wanganui has risen by about $200,000 while the developer awaits resource consent, a Wanganui District Council hearing was told yesterday.
OPL Group wants to construct a two-storey building on the vacant site at 45-47 Ridgway St, designed by Noel Mouldey. The ground floor would be office space for Harcourts and there would be two apartments above.
OPL Group director Peter Robinson told independent commissioner Rob van Voorthuysen the company had been waiting since mid-April for the resource consent process to work its way through.
Since that time there had been an indicative cost increase of more than 20 percent, which reflected the general buoyancy of the construction industry and increases in the cost of materials, such as steel, Mr Robinson said.
This meant an indicative increase of about $200,000. Further cost increases were likely during the months it would take to complete building consent drawings and get the building constructed, he said.
Council's senior resource management planner Shane McGhie recommended OPL's resource consent application for the building be declined as would adversely affect cultural heritage values and wouldn't maintain the Old Town streetscape.
In contrast, Mr Robinson said the building would have a presence in the street without overpowering it and would reflect elements of Wanganui's colonial heritage.
He asked Mr van Voorthuysen to make a "meaningful decision" that would give guidance to the applicant and other people who might be contemplating development in the Old Town area.
"We see the current approach of council as being unhelpful," Mr Robinson said.
"It is a major expenditure of time, energy and money to prepare and submit plans to council for assessment. It feels like an adversary rather than constructive approach."
Fifteen written submissions were received on the application ? nine in support, three opposing all or some of the development and three not raising objections. Three submitters spoke to their submissions yesterday.
Architect Mark Southcombe, who supports the development subject to conditions, said the proposal was the third for the site, which has been vacant since the 1994 Ridgway St fire. He gave it six and a-half to seven out of 10, rating the two earlier designs (by different developers) as a two and a four and a-half.
In making his decision, Mr McGhie sought the advice of the Old Town and River Margin Development Assessment Panel, which was set up a few years ago to provide heritage expertise from local people.
The OPL application is the first resource consent application where the panel's recommendations have led to a public hearing (notification).
The panel applauded the inclusion of apartments in the design and had no issue with the overall height and landscaping.
It did have concerns with the weight and bulk of the columns supporting the two-storey verandahs, that the verandahs might dominate the streetscape and with the design of the dormer windows.
Members of the panel were architect Bruce Dickson, valuer Derek Gadsby, Enterprise Wanganui managing director Geoff Hintz, landscape designer Fred Frederikse and heritage researcher Wendy Pettigrew.
Mr Dickson told yesterday's hearing the panel had issues with the building's aesthetics and Mr Mouldey basing his design on Australian terrace style.
In an a move acknowledged as unorthodox, Mr van Voorthuysen allowed some discussion between Messrs Robinson, Mouldey and Dickson to see if the two parties could sit down and come to some agreement on the aesthetics of the building.
Neither party dismissed the possibility, and Mr Robinson said he would also be happy for the hearing to be adjourned so he could have further discussion with council officers. Mr van Voorthuysen adjourned the hearing until after yesterday's hearing on a related OPL Group development involving 42 Victoria Ave.
Building cost escalates while project awaits consent
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