In February, property developer Richard Dreaver publicly pitched his idea of turning a former Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall in the Taranaki town of Waitara into a 14-room motel.
Before any official plans have been laid out, there have already been two separate cases lodged to the New Plymouth District Council against the concept.
No resource consents have been sought after, the local New Plymouth District Council confirmed.
Dreaver believes the hostility towards his new project isn’t coming from people who disapprove of the building, but more likely from people personally opposed to him.
Dreaver and his wife were recently involved with building two subdivisions in the city, estimated to be worth approximately $20 million. Seven people lodged an appeal to the Environment Court, opposing the rural rezoning.
