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2004 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc

 

General store decision deferred

 

Gosford Council has deferred making a decision on an application for a general store in Booker Bay Rd, Booker Bay, to allow an inspection of the site.

The proposed site is to be made into a general store open seven days a week, 7am to 7pm.

The existing shop was approved and constructed in 1979.

At the time of the approval, the site was zoned General Business, with a proposal to rezone the land to Residential 2(b3).

The site was ultimately rezoned to Residential 2(b).

The applicant recently lodged an application for a café and takeaway food shop but the application was withdrawn as the proposal was prohibited in the residential zone.

The applicant then submitted the current proposal which is allowed in the residential zone.

Under one of council's provisions, the proposed general store requires two off-street car parking spaces which have not been included by the applicant.

Council officers have accepted the proposal, however, as on street parking is safely available within a reasonable distance from the site.

A staff report to council stated that "the general store will provide a valuable and useful service to both residents of the locality and ferry patrons".

"The premises were approved and built as shop premises in 1979 without off street parking," according to the report.

"Notwithstanding that the site is zoned residential, the proposed use of the building is similar to the previous use."

Council officers have stated the shortfall of two parking spaces was minor and insufficient reason to warrant refusal of the application.

They also stated that many of the customers of the general store were likely to be either ferry patrons who were already parked in Ferry Rd or local residents who would walk to the store.

Council officers have recommended approval for the development.

Council agenda DH.25, March 1