City councils feature in new urban design guide
30 June 2008
City councils feature in new urban design guide
Environment Minister Trevor Mallard today released a new urban design guide featuring best practice case studies from nine local councils and developers in Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, Wellington, Kapiti and Hamilton.
"The case studies featuring in Urban Design Case Studies Local Government focus on good examples of local government and urban designer's achievements. They contain a variety of urban design strategies, plans and guidelines in a local government context and large-scale neighbourhood or master planned projects," Trevor Mallard told the Urban Design Protocol Symposium in Wellington today.
"The guide includes projects from the councils of Kapiti Coast, North Shore, Wellington City, Hamilton City, Greater Christchurch, and from Housing New Zealand Corporation.
"This new book is the second volume published by the Ministry for the Environment to help urban designers and local government. I would urge anyone needing assistance, guidance or inspiration in urban design to read this publication.
"The design of our towns and cities are crucial to assist New Zealand as we work towards becoming a truly sustainable nation. Quality urban design creates cities that are enjoyable to live in. They are more walk-able cities that have the added bonus of improving our health while also addressing global climate change by encouraging less traffic and focussing on eco-friendly and energy efficient building."
Trevor Mallard also told the symposium of the possible development of a National Policy Statement on Urban Design to give guidance and direction to local government in order to help them improve the quality of design in urban areas.
"The Ministry for the Environment will shortly be writing to relevant iwi authorities, individuals and organisations seeking comment and feedback on the potential scope of such a National Policy Statement as a first step in the process of its development," he said.
A summary of the case studies is attached. To read them in full see www.mfe.govt.nz/urban
Summary of the Urban Design Case Studies
Changing the Subdivision Code, Kapiti Coast
District Council
This case study focuses on the policy
and practices used by the Kapiti Coast District Council to
change its Code for Subdivision Development. Changes were
based on creating strong relationships with key
stakeholders, reviewing and strengthening organisational
processes, and strengthening legislative processes to
produce the Subdivision and Development Principles and
Requirements and a set of companion guidelines. Jade Garden
is used as an example of how the Subdivision and Development
Principles and Requirements and associated guidelines
supports quality urban design outcomes on the Kapiti
Coast.
Mixed Use Town Centres Design Guide, North Shore
City Council
The Good Solutions Guide for Mixed Use
Development in Town Centres is part of a suite of
non-statutory design guides developed by North Shore City
Council. The guide was developed to encourage choice and
diversity in the North Shore and to provide local examples
of well-designed mixed use developments. This case study
outlines the rationale and process for developing the design
guide and the way the Council is raising awareness of the
guide.
Central Area Design Guide and Review, Wellington
City Council
When the Resource Management Act was
introduced in 1991, the statutory design guide approach in
the Wellington District Plan was maintained and expanded
because it was seen as a natural fit for the
‘effects-based’ planning regime introduced by the new
legislation. This case study details the 2005 comprehensive
review of the Central Area chapters of the Wellington
District Plan (eventually notified as Plan Change 48). The
review gave the Wellington City Council the opportunity to
reassess and redesign the urban design controls that applied
to the Central Area in light of recent development trends,
changes in legislation, evolving case law and district plan
and design guide effectiveness.
City Urban Design
Strategy, Hamilton City Council
Hamilton City Council’s
urban design strategy CityScope establishes a framework to
guide Hamilton towards a sustainable, quality environment.
The strategy provides a strategic and visionary urban design
framework to inform and shape all aspects of the Council and
community’s decision-making processes. This case study
details the CityScope process, the relationship to the SMART
subdivision demonstration project, and outlines the
Council’s ongoing development of urban design tools and
processes.
Urban Development Strategy, Greater
Christchurch
The Greater Christchurch Urban Development
Strategy is a broad-scale, long-term land use strategy for
the greater Christchurch area prepared under the Local
Government Act 2002. The strategy area encompasses eastern
parts of the Waimakariri and Selwyn districts and the urban
and some rural areas of Christchurch City, including the
Lyttelton Harbour Basin. This case study outlines the
process used to develop the strategy and the means of
implementing it.
City Revitalisation, South of
Lichfield, Christchurch
The South of Lichfield lanes
revitalisation project has saved an historic part of
Christchurch by finding new uses for old buildings and
building on the existing urban form. The case study analyses
the design issues and opportunities that have arisen from
this project, including the reuse of historic commercial
buildings, the use of public and private space and creating
a diversity of uses.
Community Renewal, Housing New
Zealand Corporation, Talbot Park, Auckland
Talbot Park is
a community renewal project initiated by Housing New Zealand
Corporation in a site that consisted of 1960s public housing
in poor condition. The project involved major refurbishment
of 108 existing dwellings and the construction of 111 new
dwellings. The public spaces and street network of the block
were also radically changed. The case study outlines the
project process, including working with the community, plan
changes and the building development.
Mixed Use
Development, Church Lane, Queenstown
The Church Lane
development in central Queenstown demonstrates how quality
urban design outcomes can result from negotiations between
private developers and councils. This case study discusses
the design process, urban design issues, including noise and
ways of creating new mixed use developments.
Master
Planned Community, Addison, Papakura, Auckland
This case
study examines the Addison master planned community in
Takanini, a suburb of Papakura, Auckland. Addison is a good
example of a medium density, greenfield residential
development in New Zealand incorporating a range of housing
typologies aimed at creating a sense of place and community
that has attracted a diverse population. The challenges
facing the design process and development are discussed.
These include masterplans, council requirements and
structure plans.
ENDS