A resident recently contacted me about Council notification procedures for people living next door to commercial premises. The resident lives at the interface between a residential area and a local shopping centre. He told me the shop next door was previously a computer repair business which caused no problem. Then without any warning the shop was converted to a catering business.
The catering business operates for longer hours (noise plus vehicle movements), has refrigeration equipment (24-hour noise) and on-site food preparation (odour). The resident has had to complain to Council a number of times about the impact of the business and wonders why he was never given a chance to comment before approval was given. Good question!
My inquiries revealed that Council's policy does not provide for neighbours to be notified when a business changes use. Consequently I submitted the following motion to Council at the meeting on 24 June which was carried unanimously:
(a) That where Council receives a development application for a premises in a business zone, including a change of use application, and the immediately adjoining premises is residential, the application be notified to the owner and occupant of the adjoining residence and any submission received be taken into account in assessing the application.
(b) That Council’s DCP be amended to formally incorporate this change at the next available opportunity.
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