A VISION to see a prime slice of vacant land turned into a multi-million dollar shopping hub is one step closer to realisation.
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Kmart's development application was endorsed by the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council's Development Assessment Panel (DAP) on Monday.
It marks one of the last hurdles in the retail giant's planning process.
The final decision rests with councillors to give the green light for the $17.6 million precinct at next month's meeting.
The development application includes the proposal for a Kmart store, specialty shops and car parking on the land fronting Warlters and Park streets.
Community concerns including the height of the building, positioning of loading docks across from a residential street, road access and adverse lighting, were raised with the DAP.
Matthew Connors of Mort Street told the panel, the position of the loading dock "defied logic".
"Why on earth would you put your truck loading bay on the only side of the whole development that effects residents?" Mr Connors said.
He also sought to clarify the height of the building, which he believed would stand 19 metres tall. And, wanted to ensure noise from air-conditioning, lighting and pollution wouldn't affect nearby homeowners.
An 89-year-old woman said associated road works, including a median strip, would prevent easy ambulance access to her home on Warlters Street.
She said it would be highly inconvenient to lose the ability to turn right from the same street.
But the panel found the director of planning consultancy King and Campbell, Tony Thorne, had done well in addressing those concerns.
In relation to height, Mr Thorne clarified the building is set to be 11.2m, not the 19m behemoth some residents were fearing.
"It's not a high building, to be honest," he said.
Home owners and Kmart, the panel heard, had inherited the traffic issues plaguing the surrounding area.
"All access to Warlters Street is going to change, but it is going to improve," Mr Thorne said. "It's a terrible intersection now. But the intent is this will provide a signalised intersection in the future."
Kmart's Ian Williams made assurances about the non intrusive nature of the loading dock.
"Smell and noise is a major concern, but Kmart doesn't actually stock fresh food, or need to rid the shelves of putrescible waste," Mr Williams said.
"The loading dock is certainly very much designed to be contained, clean and efficient."
The panel was told one semi-trailer, or sometimes two during peak trading periods like Christmas, would enter the dock per day.
"It drives in, the roller shutters come down, and that's effectively all that happens."
The panel was told its positioning reflected council's desire to maintain pedestrian connections and integrate with neighbouring sites. No trucks, Mr Williams said, would be reversing out on to the street.
