MEDIA RELEASE

28 October 2005

Quality environment for business and residents through urban design

Auckland City Council has approved new urban design provisions for residential developments in some areas zoned for business activity.

Plan change 154 - residential activity in the business 2 and 3 zones - is the result of increased levels of residential development in these areas.

Councillor Glenda Fryer, chairperson of the Planning and Regulatory Committee, says it is important that business and residential activity can co-exist in the business 2 and 3 zones.

"The areas covered by these two zones are becoming a dynamic mix of business, residential and leisure activities. These activities often have competing pressures so we need a framework to ensure that residential development happens in a way that minimises the potential impact on both residents and businesses," she says.

"These new provisions will ensure a minimum level of amenity for residents while also ensuring the vitality and interaction of the existing retail and commercial areas within town centres is retained."

Plan change 154 introduces new rules to the district plan - isthmus section - that require:

- residential activity in the business 2 and 3 zones to change from a restricted controlled activity to a restricted discretionary activity. This means that proposed residential developments within these zones will need to undergo a resource consent assessment, which will consider developments against urban design criteria within the district plan. Auckland City will have the ability to grant or refuse these resource consent applications

- residential units and parking areas to be located above street level unless commercial activity fronts the street and the residential development sits behind this

- internal noise controls for residential developments

- controls on building setback and height to ensure adequate levels of sunlight inside homes and privacy for homeowners

- all residential units within the business 2 and 3 zones to have outdoor living areas

- minimum sizes for residential units of 35m² for studio units, 45m² for 1 bedroom units, 70m² for 2 bedroom units and 90m² for 3 bedroom units.

Ends

Note to editors:

The District Plan provides for a range of commercial and industrial activities in the various business zones:

- Business 1 and 2 zones provide for small to medium scale local businesses near residential zones

Business 3 provides for existing areas of intensive activity outside of the CBD (ie Newmarket and Otahuhu).

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