Thursday 7 March 2013

Council to hold public meeting on a proposed plan change for
North West Christchurch

Christchurch City Council is seeking the public’s views on the proposed plan change[1] to rezone three areas in North West Christchurch[2] for business activities. The Council is holding a public information session where people can find out what is proposed and how they can have an input.

City Planning Unit Manager Brigitte de Ronde says this is the third such session the Council has held in the area over the past two weeks and some important ideas and issues are coming through from the public.

“The two previous drop-in sessions were well-attended with more than 100 people coming along. People were eager to find out more information about the proposed rezoning of rural land to business and what the next steps in the plan change process were. It was also a good opportunity for Council planners to hear the concerns that people have.

“We are currently at the beginning of the proposed plan change – where we are asking for the public’s views on the future of each area and whether they support or oppose the proposed zoning,” she says.

Once submissions on this stage have closed on 28 March, Council staff will consider feedback from the public and prepare reports that will identify the potential effects and implications of developing these areas for business and how these effects can be minimised. These reports will consider issues such as the potential increase in traffic and the need for additional parking. The reports will also consider the possible infrastructure that may be needed, such as upgrades to the sewer network.

A summary of the issues received from public feedback will be available for the public to read, together with how each issue will be addressed.
Public meeting
• 12 March 2013 5.30pm–7.30pm
St Mark’s Presbyterian Church Auditorium, 150 Withells Road, Avonhead

The public meeting is to present information on what is proposed and the process going forward. The presentation will start at 6pm followed by questions and answers.
Comments can also be made:
• online at www.ccc.govt.nz/haveyoursay
• emailed to nwra@ccc.govt.nz
• posted to

Freepost 178
Strategy and Planning Group
NW Business Plan Change
Christchurch City Council
PO Box 73012
Christchurch 8154

or
hand-delivered to the Council’s Civic Offices, 53 Hereford Street.

The final date for written comments is 5pm on 28 March 2013.

Background

The Council’s decision for staff to prepare a plan change for rezoning three areas to business came about following the review of a larger area known as the North West Review Area[3] in October 2012. The review was undertaken to determine the appropriate use of the area over the long-term, on the basis that there are limitations to its ongoing use of the land for rural activities.

The decisions on the future of the area was also informed by policy guidance, natural and physical resources in the area and the feedback received from landowners and stakeholders. For example, the area is not considered appropriate for housing due to predicted aircraft noise in the future that may otherwise affect people’s health and safety and result in complaints that may limit the future development and operation of the airport.

For more information visit http://www.ccc.govt.nz/northwestchchreviewarea

-ends-

[1] Before land can be developed for business use, it must first be rezoned in the Christchurch City Plan (also known as the District Plan) from a Rural to a Business zoning. Land can be rezoned through a plan change, which is a statutory process for amending the City Plan.

[2] Approximately: 15 hectares for industrial and other business uses at 711 Johns Road, north of Waimakariri Road (Area 1); 50 hectares for industrial and other business purposes, north of Wairakei Road between Wooldridge Road and Russley Road (Area 2); and 35 hectares for industrial and other business uses, between Hawthornden Road and Russley Road (Area 3).

[3] The North West Review Area is the area between Russley Road/ Johns Road (State Highway 1) and existing residential and business areas including Harewood, Bishopdale, Burnside and Avonhead. This includes the three areas identified for rezoning to business.

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