Month: May 2013

THAT 10 METRE – 3 STOREY HOUSE – The Sequel

·

Auckland Transport Blog Reports

 

 

YAY!

One of the few times I will  move faster than Captain Kirk’s Enterprise in reblogging someone else’s post. But after some banging one’s head against a wall with Mixed Housing Zones and Three Storey Houses, the boys at ATB got a post of their own up on this touchy subject.

 

Before I do the “reblog” just a quick remark in light of an email last night on my original 3-storey house post.

 

It is in regards to Restricted Discretionary Activities that the 3-storey houses and Walk-Up Apartments fall under per Section 4 of the Unitary Plan. In the matter of Restricted Discretionary Activities with Mixed Housing Zones I am seeking full clarification with the Unitary Plan team. This might take a small amount of time so please bear with me as I await information from the planners.

 

As my own view on it:

I do  not agree with Restricted Discretionary Activities as set out in Section Four of the Unitary Plan. As it gives power to a central planner on a non-notified basis, it would go against my Centralised Master Community Plan and Semi-Liberal Plan Districts that hand most basic planing development/oversight to the Local Boards. Version 1.0 of the CMCP and SLPD can found in my submission to the Auckland Plan.

 

 

Now for the Reblog

 

ATB has finally gotten up their take on those three storey houses and Walk-Up apartments:

By Matt L, on May 20th, 2013

I’m not sure whether it is driven out of selfishness or just a sheer lack of understanding but the opposition and reporting of the unitary plan now seems to be bordering on lunacy. Almost the entire concern about the unitary plan so far seems to have been in relation to height limits. First the focus was around the heights of apartments but opponents of the plan have now moved on to the height limits in the mixed housing zone. For these opponents even three stories seems to be scary so thanks to Google, I went for a look around some of their neighbourhood and look at what I found:

…

You can see the rest over at ATB through clicking the blue hyperlink above

 

While writing this the thought someone commenting on taste and decency of the three storey residential buildings in ATB’s respective post had struck my mind. Remember this which I used to kick the debate off this end?

San Fran 3 storey houses

 

Patrick who put up the photo first over on Twitter does not even like the look of those San Fran Ladies. To me those lower photos in ATB’s 3-storey post have me scratching my head from me going ewwww at some of the buildings. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and will always kick off a never-ceasing Merry-Go-Round debate. So if you are going to comment, please do so on urban design controls and if you feel inclined the Restricted Discretionary Activity business. If you do comment on the RDA please note my position above with the CMCP and SLPD.

 

But thank you Matt and ATB for getting your local version post up on three-storey houses and Walk-Up apartments.

 

Auckland Plan Submission CMCP and SLPD Extract Version 1.0

 

 

Auckland Transport and Public Transport

·

Slick New Video on our Public Transport

 

If it was not for Budget 2013 and that Much-Ado-About-Nothing Accord causing grief in Auckland I would of gotten this post up yesterday. None the less Auckland Transport has released a rather slick video on how IT sees public transport post 2016. This is covered in the Regional Public Transport Plan (RPTP) and is stuff I have commented and submitted on before.

Take a look at the video from Auckland Transport which can be seen at their “New Public Transport Network” page.

 

Also take note of these wee facts:

Benefits of a simpler connected network will include:

  • Services at least every 15 minutes on the frequent network
  • Easier to understand
  • Access to more destinations across Auckland
  • Reduced waiting times

In October 2012, Auckland Transport called for Aucklanders to have their say on the future of public transport in our city. A total of 719 submissions were received on the draft Regional Public Transport Plan, which included the proposed new structure for Auckland’s public transport network. Approximately 70 per cent of submissions supported the proposed direction taken.

This schematic map of the proposed frequent network (PDF 250kb)includes the Southern, Eastern and Western rail lines, the Northern busway and high-frequency bus routes connecting major centres. This map shows only services (bus, rail and ferry) intended to operate at least every 15 minutes, 7am – 7pm, 7 days a week. Services will continue to operate outside these hours at lower frequencies. Other ferry, local bus and peak bus services will also operate.

 

I have not agreed or disagreed with what AT are proposing at this point and time. But, as mentioned earlier I have submitted and attended hearings on the RPTP thus far with another round of consultation coming next month.

Previous commentary and my presentation can be found at:

 

As also noted AT is beginning the next round of RPTP consultation starting with the south

Areas ​Consultation ​Implementation
​South Auckland 19 June 2013 to
2 August 2013		 Mid – end 2014​
North Auckland​ Early 2014​ Mid 2015​
Central, East and West Auckland Late 2014​ Mid 2016​

 

Also please take note of the Auckland Council Transport Committee and its deliberations over the RPTP at its Wednesday meeting:

 

So let see if proof is in the pudding after the next round of consultation with AT on public transport

 

As for things like the Manukau South Rail Link, Glenora Road Station, Electrification to Pukekohe, and Grade Separation of rail crossings which are all hot button topics and priority wants in the South; WORKING ON IT – still.

 

BEN ROSS : AUCKLAND

BR:AKL: Bring Well Managed Progress

The Unitary Plan: Bringing Change

Auckland: 2013 – OUR CITY, OUR CALL

 

 

Government to Impinge on Council Sovereignty

· 2 Comments ·

The Housing Accord is an Affront to Auckland

 

 

The debate on the Housing Accord and Special Housing Areas is still happening live in Parliament as I wrote this. But the Government is bringing through the Legislative processes with the Housing Accord and Special Housing Area material announced today in Budget 2013.

 

I have posted my swift reactions against the Housing Accord and Special Housing Areas in my “THE MUCH-ADO-ABOUT-NOTHING ACCORD” and “HOUSING ACCORD RELEASED” posts. Today I noted this in regards to the Housing Accord:

From TVNZ

“If passed, the Bill will allow the Government to intervene in instances where accord cannot be reached in establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developments.”

 

I have noted the Mayor (Len) has also released his comments on the Housing Accord and the SHA’s:

More work needed on housing accord bill – Auckland Mayor

 

Auckland Mayor Len Brown has welcomed the introduction of legislation for housing accords, but says he will be seeking clarification on a number of points to ensure the final legislation is consistent with the draft Auckland Housing Accord.

“There are clauses in the bill introduced today that appear to be inconsistent with the Auckland Housing Accord,” says Len Brown.

“My expectation is that the Select Committee process will provide an opportunity to clear up these inconsistencies.

“Clearly, in relation to the accord, the point of the legislation is to give effect to the agreements we reached.

“The accord still needs to be considered and agreed by the Auckland Council’s Governing Body. Before we can do this we need to be certain that the legislation is consistent with the agreements in the accord.

Len Brown said he would be writing to Housing Minister Nick Smith to raise questions about the consistency of the accord and the current bill.

The Housing Accord is an agreement between Auckland Mayor Len Brown and the Minister of Housing aimed at tackling issues of housing affordability and supply in Auckland.

It is subject to agreement by Auckland Council.

The streamlined consenting process outlined in the accord can only take effect once the council’s draft Unitary Plan is adopted for notification – expected to be September this year.

Ends

 

To me however, I see this as direct attack on Council Sovereignty and the Auckland region. My reasons are made very clear in my previous posts mentioned above (and with links provided) on why I see the Accord as an attack on Council Sovereignty. The further point made and illustrated in bold from TVNZ provides the fish-hook that makes my view clear on this attack from Wellington.

I also note my earlier comment on our planning history here in Auckland:

Of note that the National Government in the 90s decentralised planning and removed itself largely from it with the introduction of the Resource Management Act 1991. This would replace the Town and Country Act and hand over to Councils primary planning powers. Now in 2013 a National Government is seeming to want to re-centralise planning powers away from Councils with its Much-Ado-About-Nothing Accord – the Housing Accord.
Impinging on Council Sovereignty – A Stalinist Move, not a (Social and (Neo)) Liberal move that the Party was founded on in 1936

 

So the remark made a few days ago especially to Monty Python and Fish Slapping continues:

The heavy questioning will continue until all the straight answers are given about the Much-Ado-About-Nothing Accord and those Special Housing Areas that are satisfactory to the city – something we are not getting at the moment if the Facebook comments are anything to go by. I wonder if that is because there is no satisfactory answer to a process that is:

  • Anti-Democratic
  • Anti-Auckland
  • Rough-shodding the Unitary Plan Process
  • Short circuiting the Rural Urban Boundary process still under consideration and consultation (and being treated separate to the full Unitary Plan)
  • Does not answer about provision of employment centres that can not be expanded nor built until the Unitary Plan is in operation anyhow (so three years?)
  • Relate back to infrastructure provisions that Council can not provide for (more broke than the girls from 2 Broke Girls) not has a decent plan on (the Auckland Transport Integrated Transport Plan failure)
  • And how does this make things affordable when there are five major prongs to housing affordability:
    • Land
    • Construction Costs
    • Council Fees and Contributions
    • Financing and wages
    • Infrastructure provision

Ah dear – some people should honestly not meddle in things beyond their comprehension (Dr Nick Smith and might as well be the entire Government at this rate). As for the Councillors backing the Much-Ado-About-Nothing-Accord I invite you to Karaka tonight and listen in on what could very well happen in a Special Housing Area and how that has upset residents from all sides of the divide…

In conclusion? More Monty Python Fish Slapping still to come

 

And yes even as a Nat Party member I see the Accord as an affront to my home, my city and to liberal ideals…