Property developers Frasers Papamoa are today seeking to extend the size of a planned shopping centre on Coast Boulevard to accommodate the growing Papamoa population.

Resource consent has already been granted to Frasers to build a 1900m2 centre that includes a supermarket, bank, wine store and specialty retail.

Developer Steve Short is seeking resource consent to extend the planned development at Coast Papamoa.

The developers are now seeking consent to extend the development on Coast Boulevard – the access road to the development from Papamoa Beach Road - by 880m2, bringing the total commercial space area to 2890m2.

The extension includes a retail shop, a cafe/restaurant and a medical centre and pharmacy. Two residential units are proposed to be located above ground floor level in the same building as the medical centre and pharmacy.

The commercial development is expected to cost about $8 million and is expected to be completed by 2021.

Arguments for and against the resource consent application for the extension are being heard before an independent commissioner at Tauranga City Council today.

Tauranga City Council staff support the application, which fits as a local centre within the City Plan.

The commercial area will be located both sides of Coast Boulevard with 350m2 on the west and 530m2 on the east side of the road. The land is with the Frasers Papamoa commercial zone, where provision is made for business and residential activities.

Submissions opposing the commercial zone extension are concerned about the impact the proposal will have on amenity values and existing character as a result of the proposed residential units and traffic noise and movement, and that the business activities are out of character with neighbouring land uses.

The local centre is to service the local catchment with day-to-day convenience retailing and commercial service needs.

At the scale proposed, the centre will primarily compete against other convenience centres and is not expected to attract significant custom from beyond the identified catchment area.

Nga Potiki hapu is concerned the height of the proposed buildings will impact on view shafts from the Tamapahore Marae and kaumatua units at Mangatawa.

While the City Plan provides protection of views to Mauao from public and historic places and marae within the city, these identified protected view shafts are in addition to the building height controls afforded through the City Plan. There are no identified view shaft corridors that cover the Frasers Papamoa site.

The result of the hearing will be known in two or three weeks.