A new retail and residential precinct slated for the Dickson town centre violates precinct codes, clashes with the shopping centre's master plan and is at loggerheads with the ACT government's sustainability agenda, according to a town planner and resident.
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The ACT government is expected to approve or deny the application for the Coles-DOMA development on Tuesday, which if approved would see Coles and Aldi open in a six-storey 155-unit building on the current Woolworths car park.
Independent town planner and resident Jane Goffman said the development application raised a number of traffic and safety concerns, largely caused by the design of the car park's entries and exits.
One basement ramp encroached on public land and was "not legally capable of being approved", she said.
Ms Goffman said the two new supermarkets would act as magnets, drawing extra cars and creating a bottleneck that would hamper traffic flow around the shops and surrounding streets; commuter safety and parking availability.
"It becomes extra noisy, there's more pollution, the amenity of the place is diminished," she said.
"Unless you address those public space aspects, the place itself is a loss; a loss of trade, a loss of attraction, and its character changes."
Ms Goffman, who spoke to traders and passing residents about the plans on Monday afternoon, said most residents and businesses were not fully aware of the development, which was expected to be completed in 2016.
She was organising a meeting between community figures and senior planners for Tuesday in the hope of seeing the design revised.
"A major development is being proposed but the majority of people who are most affected have not been properly informed and to me, that's a breach of faith," she said.
Ms Goffman said the development's relationship with the Dickson Library's heritage buffer and surrounds was another major concern.
Meanwhile, she was "almost certain" the design did not meet fire evacuation requirements or building height shadowing restrictions; and believed there was a deficit of up to 160 car spaces due to miscalculations.
Ms Goffman said the the development application was "diametrically opposite" the master plan's goals, and raised uncertainty around linkages to existing shops and future development on the Tradies site.
Without a strengthened pedestrian spine the development would hinder links to the light rail corridor and deter cyclists and pedestrians, she said.
"This particular proposal is a truly missed opportunity," she said.
Jhay the Cobbler owner Jason Mann, who has spearheaded a petition with more than 300 signatures to date, said the majority of negative feedback was centred around fears the Dickson shops would "become another Civic", amenity and parking.
Personally, he said the development was positive but flawed and could "become a shopping mall within a shopping mall; very cut off from the rest of us".
Capital Chemist managing partner Lauren Sullivan said her main concern was continued local support amid inconvenienced access to the shops.
She expected an increased take-up of the chemist's home delivery service, particularly among elderly or less mobile customers.
"If it means I have to get in the car and deliver their medications, I will."
