Parking dispute on the menu

By Paul Dunlop
A NEW restaurant in Beaconsfield has been given the goahead despite fears diners’ cars will eat into parking in the area.
Cardinia Shire Council was divided on an application to turn a vacant shop into a licensed eatery on the Old Princes Highway.
Applicant John Georgiou had sought to establish the restaurant in the neighbourhood centre near the intersection of Souter Street, in premises that were formerly a video shop.
The decision prompted heated debate at the council’s town planning meeting on Monday, 5 March.
Four councillors, including mayor Kate Lempriere, supported the development, voting down a push by three colleagues to slash the restaurant’s seating capacity.
Mayor Lempriere and councillors Graeme Legge, Bill Pearson and Doug Hamilton agreed with town planners who said the proposal would make a “positive contribution” to Beaconsfield.
Councillors Brett Owen and Bill Ronald and Ed Chatwin stood against the decision, backing objectors — including the Beaconsfield Progress Association — who opposed plans to reduce car parking in the area.
There are 67 car parks in the sevenshop neighbourhood centre and council’s debate centred on whether it was acceptable for the restaurant to open without adding to this number.
Cr Owen said he wanted the restaurant restricted to a 36seat capacity to ensure it met council’s minimum carparking requirements.
Cr Owen said he was concerned that diners eating in the restaurant would park in spaces that rightfully belonged to other businesses.
“Residents have had enough of seeing this council accept any development with less than minimum car parking,” Cr Owen said.
“If we once again fail to push this issue, our credibility will go out the window.”
Cr Ronald supported Cr Owen, saying council already had major problems with car parking in Pakenham.
Cr Pearson and Cr Hamilton argued that slashing the number of seats would mean the business might struggle to be viable.
They agreed with the town planners’ report that found carparking in the area was adequate.
Cr Legge disagreed with Cr Owen’s claim the decision could set a precedent. Cr Legge said there was little demand for the car parking spaces at night.
Council’s decision paved the way for the restaurant to seat up to 35 people before 6pm on Monday to Saturday and up to 50 people in the evenings and on Sunday.
Cr Lempriere said later she believed the decision was a good compromise.
“It was not an easy decision to make,” she said.
“On one hand we have the viability of a small business. On the other we do have a big problem with carparking in our towns.”