Liquor shop proposal

Residents of Te Aroha Street and all other residential streets in the area are really upset that Hamilton City Council is keen on giving a permit to open a liquor shop in the corner of Te Aroha and Palmer streets. We have two shops that sell liquor and about two bars in this area.

Te Aroha Street is a very narrow street with residential houses where respectable people live, plus schools and place of worship.

I use this road every morning and I know a number of Hamilton Boys’ High School students use this road. Morning and evening, the traffic along this road has increased during the past 12 months.

This road has a number of apartments occupied by low-income families. Do not ruin their life.

We have enough liquor shops in Hamilton either stop it or open it inside Claudelands event centre, which is running at a loss.

Mano Manoharan, Hamilton

Council response: The council has received a planning application for two retail stores, a grocery and a liquor store, in a current business zone in Hamilton East. Retail stores are permitted within a business zone, subject to compliance with standards. A decision on the consent has not been made. While processing the application, the effects on the environment were assessed to be no more than minor, although the homes along the opposite side of Palmer Street could be affected because the required amount of parking spaces on site were not included in the application.

This means the council have written to those properties (limited notification), who have the opportunity to make a submission on the proposal. Depending on submissions, the application may then proceed to a hearing, where an independent commissioner will hear all submissions and evidence then make a decision.

In addition, all new alcohol stores will need to go through the District Licensing Committee (DLC) to get an alcohol licence. As part of this process, the public can object to the licence and appear in front of the DLC at a hearing.

Fraser McNutt, planning guidance manager