IN JUST a couple of days, Bathurst residents should have confirmation on whether or not Taco Bell is going to be coming to the city.
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A development application (DA), proposing to build the fast-food restaurant at a site on the corner of Howick and Stewart streets, will come before Bathurst Regional Council for determination on Wednesday night.
The DA was lodged with council in November and has generated a lot of community interest.
While many are excited by the idea, there are some who are concerned about the location proposed.
However, the recommendation from the director of council's Environmental, Planning and Building Services department is for the plans to be approved.
It's now up to councillors to decide if they agree.
Director Neil Southorn's report, which spans nearly 100 pages, includes a mammoth list of 87 conditions that the applicant must abide by.
The conditions are related to 14 areas: Earthworks, dust, erosion and sedimentation (5); traffic management, safety and parking (12); trade waste (3); lighting and signage (11); noise (15); odour (18); Essential Energy (7); heritage conservation (4); consolidation of lots (1); sale of alcohol (1); privacy (1); waste management (4); and landscaping (5).
One of the biggest concerns the public had over the proposal was the impact Taco Bell could have on traffic, but Mr Southorn is satisfied there won't be a substantial negative effect based on the evidence supplied.
"Based on information provided in the traffic assessment report and comments provided from Transport for NSW, it is considered that the proposed development would not result in any adverse impacts on traffic or pedestrian safety and that sufficient space would be provided on site for car parking, queuing in the drive-through and for an 8.8-metre service vehicle to safely enter and exit the site in a forward direction," Mr Southorn said.
Traffic would only be able to enter from Howick Street, but can exit via either Howick or Stewart streets.
Residents living nearby the proposed site of Taco Bell also raised concerns about the impact construction would have and the ongoing impacts of noise, odour and light pollution once the restaurant became operational.
If the DA is approved, a number of conditions would be imposed to limit the impact on neighbours.
Among the conditions is that all external lighting, including that associated with signage, must be switched off outside the approved operating hours and that music can only be played indoors between the hours of 10am and 10pm.
In his report, Mr Southorn notes that the plans are "not fully compatible" with the amenity of the surrounding residential area and is leaving it to councillors to decide if Taco Bell can "exist in harmony" with its surroundings.
"Should council be satisfied that the proposed development can exist in harmony within the residential area it is supposed to be located, the development could be approved, but with numerous conditions of consent as recommend," he said.
The report will be discussed at Wednesday's meeting, which can be live-streamed on council's YouTube channel from 6pm.
Due to COVID-19 safety measures, members of the public cannot attend the meeting in person.
