Council may provide Junction car parking

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 542, 28 June 1994, Page 1

Council may provide Junction car parking

The problem of a lack of :ar parking space in the Thames Street/ Vlangawhero Terrace areas >f the Ohakune Junction

needs to be urgently investigated, the Ruapehu District Council agreed at their meeting last Friday. The council is to look at acquir-

ing land for carparks in the area. The decision arose out of an application by Margarita's Tapas Bar and

Restaurant in Thames Street for a liquor licence. Before a liquor licence can be issued the proposal had to meet the requirements of the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Building Code but an examination of the site by council revealed the site does not have the required carparking spaces in accordance with the traditional Ruapehu District Plan (Borough of Ohakune District Scheme). The council heard that because the Thames Street area has developed as a skitourism centre with the majority of establishments selling food or liquor and hiring and selling ski equipment, carparking space is often inadequate at the peak of the season resulting in traffic problems. In his recommendation to council, town planner Jeff Page states: "Given the way the Thames Street commercial area has developed, for many of the businesses compliance with the carparking requirements of the District Plan is impractical or impossible". He therefore suggested the council address the issue by acting as a "driving and co-ordinating body" by providing for single or mul-

tiple carparks in the area. In order to do this land would have to be acquired. Because the proprietors of Margarita's Tapas Bar and Restaurant (Messrs David and Richard McCabe) cannot provide the necessary carparking space (estimated at between 31 and 34 based on a District Plan formula) they (the proprietors) invoked Rule 6.4.3(ii) of the District Plan whereby a payment ($21,536.39 in their case) can be made in lieu of the off-street parking associated with the operation of the bar and restaurant. In adopting the resolution to receive this payment councillors asked Mr Page to investigate the availability of suitable land in the area as a matter of urgency. It is understood that at least one other developer in the Thames Street area who is facing the same problem of providing for carparking is proposing to submit a similar request to council. Mr Page told council that there may be some land available on the Mangawhero Terrace road reserve and this will be investigated but he said there can be no guarantee (at this stage) that any land will be available.