Glen Innes proposed plan change ready for consultation

A plan change to introduce the Residential 8 zone near Glen Innes town centre is to be publicly notified on Sunday 20 March.

Plan Change 61 seeks to rezone residential properties, located generally within a 10-minute walk of the town centre, to Residential 8a and 8b, and to rezone Residential 5 zoned sites that directly face or are opposite the new Residential 8 zoned areas to Residential 6a.

The plan change also introduces increased height limits over parts of the former Tamaki Girls' College site on the corner of Taniwha Street and Elstree Avenue, and requirements to address flood risk.

The Residential 8 zoning is aimed at encouraging more compact housing development, like apartments, terraced housing and town houses, near Glen Innes town centre and public transport. The change will help the area meet future population growth and create the kind of higher density community needed to support public transport services and the viability of the town centre.

Within the Residential 8 zones, residential developments are subject to development controls and urban design criteria to ensure a high standard of building design, and integration with the surrounding neighbourhood.

The rezoning to Residential 6a will provide a buffer area between the more intensive Residential 8 zone and the lower density Residential 5.

The public has until Friday, 22 April to make submissions on the plan change. There will also be an opportunity for people to make subsequent comment on other people’s submissions, and to speak to their submissions at a public hearing.

The plan change represents another step forward for the Glen Innes into the future strategy, which was adopted in 2004 after extensive community consultation. It is designed to revitalise the area and accommodate future growth.

Glen Innes is one of the priority one "areas of change" in Auckland City's growth management strategy. The area's population is expected to grow by 3,000 over the next 20 years.

Projects completed as part of the strategy include the $1.67 Mayfair Place mall redevelopment, the $1.8 upgrade of Glen Innes rail station and completion of the adjoining park and ride.

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