A new multi-purpose building has been approved for a prominent Brownston Street site, the latest in a handful of recent approvals for the south side of the street.

The two-storey building (the second for the site) will be constructed at 20 Brownston Street, alongside the site’s existing commercial building, and will be used for commercial purposes, divided for visitor accommodation or rented as two residential units.

This range of uses are allowed (at Queenstown Lakes District Council’s discretion) because the property is inside the Wānaka Town Centre Transition Overlay zone.

Brownston Street is subject to two zones: The overlay zone is on the south side, while the north side falls within the more permissive Wānaka Town Centre zone.

While commercial activities are allowed in the overlay zone, they must be ‘sensitive’ to surrounding residents.

A handful of new commercial enterprises have popped up on the south side of Brownston Street in recent years, including a bookshop and a food truck village.

Other businesses on the same stretch of road, like Cinema Paradiso, were established many years ago.

The overlay zone is designed to provide for future controlled commercial growth and intended to enable “appropriate town centre activities to establish in a discrete area of residential-zoned land adjoining the town centre,” according to the Proposed District Plan.

IMAGE: Supplied