A rejected development plan for 421-425 Bong Bong Street will see many small businesses miss out.
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The owner for abandoned spare parts shop on Bong Bong Street, Zlatko Todorcevski, has grand plans for the vacant lot but has had to put them on hold over parking issues with the council.
The building was initially approved for a restaurant, bar and butcher shop under the previous owner, and were given parking credits from Wingecarribee Shire Council as the original building was retained.
It was then bought by Mr Todorcevski in 2017, who bought the building with the existing DA and knowing that the building credits were included. The new development, if approved, will consist of a cafe, eight commercial suites and 16 apartments.
However, Mr Todorcevski is in a state of limbo and is considering taking the matter to Land and Environment court.
"It's so frustrating. I have no faith that they [council] are going to go back and do anything differently," he said.
"Three weeks prior to the council meeting on April 24, we were still being told by council staff that they were going to approve this under a delegated authority and they were working on a voluntary planning agreement.
"I definitely never saw any details of a voluntary planning agreement or a voluntary parking agreement. Nothing was put in to writing.
"But the report from council staff said that they had proposed that to me and that I had rejected it."
A spokesperson for the council said that they had received legal advice stating that parking credits did not apply to this application nor could they be transferred from a previous consent.
"Each application is considered on its own merits," they said.
"The development has been categorised as a restaurant due to the nature of the proposal and is required to provide parking in Bong Bong Street in accordance with the Development Control Plan."
"Leading up to the determination of the application, Council met with the developer on a number of occasions to discuss possible solutions. Council provided a number of possible solutions which were not supported by the proponent."