How many servos does one town need: $1.7m plan back on agenda
Plans for a 24-hour service station just north of the Coffs CBD is back on the agenda. There’s already an abundance of servos along the highway, soon to be bypassed.
Coffs Harbour
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If approved, the 24-hour Mobil service station on the highway just north of the CBD would be the sixth in the vicinity, joining the likes of the Bailey Centre Liberty, Shell, United Petroleum, BP and Caltex.
The abundance of existing service stations along the highway, which will soon be bypassed, is just one of the reasons people are questioning the wisdom of approving it.
“How many does one town need? Because the others are too far, a minute or two down the highway,” Advocate reader Bel Wait said.
The development application for the service station will be considered by Coffs Harbour City Councillors at their Thursday ordinary meeting.
The recommendation is for it to be approved.
During public exhibition of the plans, Council received 35 submissions objecting to it.
Accordingly, the matter will be considered by Councillors due to the ‘significant public interest and community input’.
People have questioned the compatibility of a 24-hour service station, which would operate seven days a week, with residential development to the rear.
The plans were first lodged in May last year by Central Coast development firm RCI Group.
Council had raised concerns in relation to traffic and noise and the potential for the retail aspect of the development to detract from the CBD.
But a number of changes have been made including widening access and egress points and changes to internal layout and parking to avoid possible queuing into the highway.
The developer has also moved to alleviate concerns about the retail component competing with the CBD and aspirations for CBD activation saying the products on sale will be ‘subordinate to fuel sales’
The $1.7m development would involve the demolition of two single-storey fibro buildings on the site at 178 to 180 on the Pacific Highway across from the Rose Ave Veterinary Hospital.
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