ORANGE City Council is likely to insist the developer behind the Quest Apartments building contributes almost $330,000 towards parking in the CBD, despite assurances the amount of parking provided will meet demand.
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Proposed modifications to the building, some of them already completed illegally, will go to councillors for approval on Tuesday night.
But the applicant also asked not to pay the $126,000 in parking contributions levied as part of the approval in 2017.
At the time, the council deemed its 80 spaces were already nine short but in the fresh application, Quest contended 77 spaces would be sufficient based on a 75 per cent occupancy rate.
For the applicant to suggest that the demand for the cafe and retail uses is met by the development is quite simply a misnomer.
- Orange City Council report
However, the report found inconsistencies with projected staff numbers and floor space calculations were based on old plans, meaning in fact 99 spaces were required.
"The applicant's assessment is predicated on the demand generated by the cafe use and retail use being met by the parking provided within the development," the report said.
"However, this is not the case as the car park area will only be accessible by guests staying at the motel, so for the applicant to suggest that the demand for the cafe and retail uses is met by the development is quite simply a misnomer."
The report said it was reasonable to expect some people using the building might park in the council's Ophir car park.
"The purpose of accepting parking contributions from developers who are unwilling or unable to provide adequate parking onsite is to use these funds to provide alternative public parking solutions," the report said.
"It would be unreasonable and indeed inappropriate not to apply the parking contributions."
The report noted not charging the contributions would set a precedent.
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