MEDIA RELEASE

May 20, 2002

Council looks at plan change

Auckland City wants to change the rules in the district plan to make sure new housing developments are well-designed and compatible with the environment.

Councillor Juliet Yates, Chairperson of the City Development Committee, says “a comprehensive review of the current rules,” is contained in plan change 26, which has been notified for public submissions. The submission period closes on July 22.

Councillor Yates says this is the council’s response to concerns of councillors and the public regarding the district plan rules called “innovative housing provisions.”

These provisions govern resource consent applications for multi-unit housing developments of five or more units.

She says the concerns relate to issues regarding design and appearance, placing too many units on small sites and a lack of consideration of surrounding properties.

“In order to ensure better design in every multi-unit development throughout the suburbs we have to deal with these issues and their effect on the urban environment.”

The plan change replaces the innovative housing provisions with three new definitions – retirement villages, housing developments for the elderly and disabled and integrated housing developments.

Councillor Yates says applications for integrated housing developments will have to comply with specific density controls. The applications will apply to residential zones 6 and 7 only as a discretionary activity. Discretionary activities mean extra rules apply, she says.

“The developments can only be on a site of 2000m2 or greater to meet the density controls.

“At present, the ‘innovative housing’ definition can be used to place more units on a site than is permitted under the density controls.

“Any integrated housing development applications which do not comply with the proposed controls will be publicly notified, so that neighbours who consider they may be adversely affected by a development can make submissions and have the right to speak at a hearing.”

The City Development Committee considers plan change 26 a high priority, says Councillor Yates. It is particularly important because it applies to each residential zone and some business zones in the isthmus, she says.

“It provides clearer regulations, written in more concise terms.”

Current district plan provisions defined as “non-permanent accommodation” would be changed to “boarding house/hostel and visitors accommodation.”

Provisions defined as “homes for the aged” will be changed to “rest homes.”

ENDS

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