Albury Council’s planning and development committee this week endorsed a move seeking an amendment to update planning controls for the site. It is zoned residential, which prohibits use as a service station.

But owner Steve Ford has approached council with a plan to re-open a service station based on options for an alternative use due to potential land contamination.

The site was sold at a mortgagees auction late last year for $440,000 and will be the only petrol station on Urana Road if the state government agrees to the amendment.

A separate development application will then be required and approved by council before the recommencement of the site as a petrol station.

The application will address issues relating to traffic, noise, amenity and social impacts resulting from a service station within close proximity to existing homes.

The planning proposal approved by the council committee this week highlighted no trees or vegetation would be removed and local residents would benefit from an additional nearby facility.

Local residents will be sent details of the proposal and plans will be on display in the council offices, Library Museum and Lavington Library.

“The relative small scale nature of the proposal and the fact that the site was previously used as a service station and still contains this infrastructure on-site suggests that the site can recommence operations as a service station,” planning staff member Matt Johnson said.

Concerns about 481 Urana Road and a property next door being an “eyesore” due to the amount of cars located on the sites were aired by Cr Alice Glachan at the meeting.