"The amenity and living standards of the residents should be paramount, the requirements and desires of a commercial operator should be subservient to that. It's a residential place."
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Those words, spoken by Bathurst Heritage Network convener Sandy Bathgate, summed up the major concern of the community about the proposed Taco Bell development.
A public discussion forum, held on February 5, gave residents the opportunity to speak about the proposal for a site on the corner of Stewart and Howick streets.
They made it clear that, while they don't mind Taco Bell establishing a premises in Bathurst, it shouldn't be at the expense of neighbours.
Residents have previously expressed issues of concern, and among them is the size of the site compared to the size of the restaurant itself.
"What's become clear to me is that the proposal is for a standard cookie-cutter Taco Bell business, which is trying to be shoehorned into the wrong place and too small a site, too small in every respect - size, traffic, noise, proximity, you name it, it's too big for that site," Mr Bathgate said.
Donna Kinsela, who lives in close proximity to the proposed site, described where she lives as a "haven" and a "sanctuary".
If Taco Bell was to be built nearby, it might strip her and other residents of that.
"I'm not against Taco Bell coming to town and I'm going to ask you all (council) to work with Taco Bell to find them an appropriate location for them to come to town and provide another service to Bathurst, but the corner of Howick and Stewart Street is not the right location," Ms Kinsela said.
She noted the traffic issues that it could create, as well as the disruption to residents from noise and odour.
"These things make my haven less of a haven," she said.
The developer of the proposed Taco Bell site, Roger Abbott, also spoke on the night and maintained that the site is of a suitable size to house the restaurant.
The proposal will come to a future council meeting for determination.
