266-268 Bourke Street Darlinghurst NSW 2010

The proposal is for a bar to be set within a set of terrace houses opposite a residential apartment block. This is inconsistent with the amenity of the area with the closest bars streets away. The bar is also directly next to the 389 bus stop so the proposal is for passengers to step off the bus onto the footpath shared by the bar. This is a narrow footpath with several large trees already restricting the passage of pedestrians. The previous coffee shop in this location placed only a few bench seats next to the wall and even that obstructed the footpath, a bar typically leads to people standing outside, very often these people are smoking and or talking loudly. This is completely the wrong location for a bar. The application should be denied rather than conditions placed up on the approval as the location is completely unsuitable and will have a significant negative impact upon not only the surrounding homes but also those of us who use the bus and the footpath on a regular basis.

A problem with smokers or groups of people leaving or waiting to enter is, if they gather to the left of the bar it’s right outside residential terraces (smokers must be 4 metres from entrance). To the right is non residential, but from experience the operator probably won’t and can’t control the patrons on the footpath area and it can become an annoyance for residents, especially the smoking. Also. Being right in front of the 389 bus stop, it is already a busy part of the footpath.