A REPORT on the proposal to establish a Taco Bell restaurant in Bathurst includes more than six pages of issues raised by members of the public.
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The report will be up for discussion at the first Bathurst Regional Council meeting of the year, to be held on Wednesday night, and it will be the first opportunity for all nine councillors to publicly hear concerns.
A development application was lodged with council in November, proposing to establish the American fast-food chain across two lots at 103 and 105 Stewart Street.
In order to do this, the existing commercial building will need to be demolished to make way for construction of the drive-through restaurant and car park.
The DA also proposes that an existing house be turned into office premises.
Council advertised and notified the DA to adjoining property owners from December 2 to December 16, and in that time seven submissions were received.
The report to the upcoming meeting summarises the concerns within the submissions over six and half pages, with there being 69 issues raised in total.
One of the major concerns residents have is the impact the development will have on traffic.
A submission from Mark and Donna Kinsela states that congestion has proven to be an issue around fast-food outlets in Bathurst and would therefore be a problem for Taco Bell, too.
"One only has to look at the traffic congestion at KFC or the entrance to the Bathurst City Centre shopping centre where traffic is often queued back onto the roundabout," he quoted Ms Kinsela as saying.
"McDonald's had to widen their driveway and build a second drive-through lane to remove traffic blocking Durham Street.
"Placing a takeway establishment on the corner of Stewart and Howick streets will impede traffic travelling east on Stewart Street, as well as potentially traffic travelling to the CBD in Howick Street."
Other traffic concerns include the amount of vehicles potentially impeding ambulances as they travel to the hospital, headlights disturbing residents, and parking overflowing to the surrounding streets.
Neighbouring property owners are also concerned about the level of noise the development could create.
The report says there may be disturbance from a long list of things, including loud speakers, idling cars, garbage collection, truck deliveries, airconditioning and patrons walking to and from Taco Bell.
"The increased noise generated by patrons is not something the business can control, or measure in their reports, however, it will affect residents greatly, particularly at night," the report states.
Other concerns include odours, light pollution, the height of signs, hours of operation, the impact of construction on neighbours, devaluation of properties in the area, and that the location is not suitable given the types of surround businesses and homes.
"A multi-national chain restaurant with a busy and noisy drive-through is not compatible with the current heritage and residential values of this precinct," Wayne Feebrey said on behalf of the Bathurst branch of the National Trust.
"The Trust would argue that there are much better locations for this business in other parts of town."
Following Wednesday's meeting, the Taco Bell DA will be referred to a later council meeting for determination.
