CLAYTON BAY - A development application to build a retail outlet comprising of five shops, a supermarket and associated car parking on Alexandrina Drive in Clayton Bay has been refused by the Alexandrina Council’s Development Assessment Panel (DAP).

A different application for a tavern and four residential flat buildings comprising 24 units including a swimming pool, by the same development company, was also refused at the April 22 meeting.

The proposed development was to be constructed over two existing allotments, both on Alexandrina Drive.

The development company, Norich Development Pty Ltd can now either re-lodge its application or appeal the DAP decision.

The applicant originally lodged an application in early 2007 for a commercial development comprising a tavern with a second storey caretaker's residence, supermarket and five shops with associated car parking and landscaping, however this was withdrawn and then replaced with the two separate applications.

Members of the DAP concluded the two applications:

z Don't represent orderly and economic development;

z Don't represent proper distribution and segregation of living, working and recreational activities;

z Were not in accordance with the structure plans for the whole of the council area;

z Was occurring on land that is unsuitable for the purpose;

z Was incompatible with other uses within the locality.

"It's to do with the location, that (the proposed shopping complex) is supposed to be houses," DAP member Rick Medlyn said.

"The land is divided into residential blocks, and the shops are in the residential area.

"I think he got it all back to front," Mr Medlyn said of the two applications.

He added that he would expect the applicant would contest the decision.

The president of the Clayton Community Association Peter Bullock says the general feel he can gauge in the town is that of relief that the development is not going ahead.

"People talk to me and I haven't heard anyone say 'yeah, it's good it should go ahead', but I have heard people voice their concerns," Mr Bullock said.

"We have a wonderful community and we don't want it to change."

Mr Bullock said the Clayton Community Association had spent months campaigning to make Clayton Bay a 'no street light' town, and has only recently gained the council's approval for this, and if the development had been approved then lights would have to be put around it.

"A lot of people have done a lot of work lobbying council to get the street lights turned off.

"We are pleased it's been knocked in the head."

Mr Bullock said he didn't think a town the size of Clayton would need a tavern, and feared that bringing pokies into the area, as well as housing tenants in the units, rather than housing owners, would have a detrimental affect on the small town.

"It was inappropriate for Clayton," Mr Bullock said.

The Times was unable to contact the developer for comment.