A small business operator has been spared paying a $26,000 council car parking contribution fee by agreeing to cut the number of people on his premises.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Daniel Quarmby is planning to open a facility for martial arts, boxing and self-defence classes in a former shop in Peisley Street near Kite Street.
However, Orange City Council was told on Tuesday night there was insufficient parking provided for the number of people expected to attend.
Council staff had set a fee of $26,052 to be paid in lieu of the site being 3.5 car parking spaces short of what was required.
Mr Quarmby and planner Amanda Rasmussen attended the Open Forum section of the online meeting to ask for the fee to be waived if the number of participants at a peak parking demand time of 4.30pm-5pm weekdays was limited to 18 people.
The car park contribution cost is a heavy financial impost on the business.
- Amanda Rasmussen, planner
Ms Rasmussen told council there was ample parking available in car parks and on streets near the premises when the afternoon classes were expected to start at 4.30pm.
"This is an emerging business trying to re-establish an operation within Orange which allows for both physical activity and participation for improved mental and physical well-being," she said.
"The car park contribution cost is a heavy financial impost on the business particularly based on the current economic climate."
Ms Rasmussen said it was proposed the business would open "post COVID-19."
A report to council's Planning and Development committee said council had calculated a higher number of car parks were necessary for the site than had been claimed in the development application.
"There is no car parking on the site, and parking cannot be provided given the building occupies the greater portion of the site," it said.
"Previous uses of the site have relied on on-street parking and public car parks in the surrounding area; and the subject property benefits from a car parking credit from its former uses of 18 spaces."
Council was told the business would be open from 6am-9am and 4pm-9pm Monday-Friday and 7am-1pm on Saturdays.
The council agreed to waive the fee provided the business met the conditions of consent which limit the number of people on the premises at the peak time.
HAVE YOUR SAY
- Send us a letter to the editor using the form below ...