First (extensive) Look into Land Use
Land Use: The Beginning
Land use took up the bulk of my submission (around 70%) as I focused on the Central Business District and Southern Auckland (due to time and resource constraints). I also noted that land use is one of the four pillars that dictate (at Local Govt.. level) the economic progress and affordability of living, working and conducting business in the city (the others being: Infrastructure, Regulation and Taxes). So I did some reading of a few blogs, academic journals and essays on the existing and historic land use and influences in Auckland. For references to the historic and existing conditions in Auckland see page FOUR of my submission or SLIDES three to six of the presentation I gave to the Auckland Spatial Plan Hearings Panel.
Quick note on Energy
I had made a fleeting but important note on energy in my submission. Energy is a catalyst in influencing land use and transportation use and I pointed out to the Hearings Panel the more likely way we (Auckland and New Zealand) will go in the energy transition cycle.
Slide FOUR of the presentation illustrated the cycle we will most likely take for energy sources for our transportation fleet. This lead to the inevitable conclusion in my submission that the car will be with us for at least until the end of the century and that any planning should take into account all forms of transport mode including the dominance of the car.
Back to a First Look at Land Use
In my submission I asked a question about land use, the question was: ”How does Auckland best allocate and utilise its land efficiently and optimally so that the goal of being the “Most Livable (and affordable) City” can be realised.” The submission answered by stating two possible options of either; a centralised prescription based approach seen currently in Auckland or a neo liberal approach seen in HUSTON, Texas.
However I advocated for a mixed model approach where both the centralised prescription method and liberal method had their respective places in Auckland – regardless of Brownfield or Greenfield development. The submission provided list of both where intensification and sprawl would take place and which growth model would be best suited to each mentioned area. The mixed model system while is the main system to achieve to goal:
“To accommodate employment and economic activity in supporting a healthy social and physical environment for over two million residents by 2040. In doing so The Plan has to follow the objective of being: Simple, Efficient, Thrifty, and restoring Affordability to residents and businesses while still making Auckland ‘The Most Livable City.”
The mixed model approach was designed on the premise that a ‘one size fits all’ growth planning policy would not work and adaptation is and would be required. Thus two “methods” were drawn up to outline and guide the growth method needed for Auckland.
Both growth methods (which would be under the Land Allocation/Development Utilisation (LADU) system in the submission) had to follow a very basic guideline to ensure the quality of the physical and social environment of the city.
This basic guide line group is called the Regional Land Allocation/Development/Utilisation Philosophies which outlines the following individual philosophies for the LADU system:
- Follow and Implement the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol
- Follow these philosophies:
○ Would you and your family live here happily?
○ Would you work here happily?
○ Would you and your family use this recreational space while feeling safe?
○ Would it be something you would allow your next generation to inherit?
○ Not contravene the principles of the Resource Management Act 1991 (i.e. the land allocation/development/utilisation will not create severe adverse effects – or simply put, lower the amenity of the surrounding existing physical and social environment)
Who and where got developed is also mentioned in the introduction to the Land Use section of the submission for both intensification and sprawl. The list below gives some (but no means limited to) areas suitable for one kind of growth or the other:
Areas for “sprawl” to occur at:
● Drury^
● West Papakura^
● Westgate
● Hobsonville
● East Takanini^
● Airport
● Kumeu
● Wiri*^
Area‟s for intensification to occur at:
● Wynyard Quarter^
● New Lynn
● Takapuna
● Tamaki^
● Manukau City Centre^
● Papakura Central^
● Papatoetoe Central (Hunter‟s Corner)
● Pukekohe
● Otahuhu
● Penrose/Southdown/Onehunga#
See Appendix Map for illustration of the above areas (that are outlined (^))
*Wiri for both intensification and sprawl
#Urban redevelopment
However again focus was on the CBD and Southern Auckland.
What were the two methods under the mixed model LADU system?
One was called the Centralised Master (Community) Plan which was a centralised prescription method of growth, while the other method was the Semi Liberal Planned District which was inspired from the Huston, Texas model of urban development.
My next post in the Draft Auckland Plan Series will expand on the Centralised Master Community Plan Land Allocation/Development/Utilisation method of growth in Auckland
Area focused in my submission
The map above illustrates the areas I had focused on in my submission, with particular focus on Southern Auckland. If time had allowed North and North West Auckland would have also had been included but alas one can only do with what he or she is given with.
That is all for this post, if you enjoy reading the blog feel free to comment or even spread the word. In the mean time I hope my contributions have added another view-point or dimension into what is a View of Auckland.
