GAME ON

Time to Decide on Mixed Housing Zones

 

Tomorrow at 10am in Town Hall the Auckland Plan Committee will be and make decisions (or recommendations) on changes to the Unitary Plan. Those decisions on changes will be specifically in regards to Mixed Housing Zones and the Terrace Housing/Apartment Zone.

I will be tweeting live from the proceedings tomorrow as they happen with a full report to come at end of the day (or Wednesday morning). And Lord forbid 6 hours with that air con drying my eyes out…

I have been going through the APC Addendum for tomorrow to see what is up on the table in regards to the two zones. In particular I am paying attention to the Mixed Housing Zone (mainly because my house sits in such a zone in Papakura). Interesting to see I have noted the that tomorrow the Auckland Plan Committee will consider splitting the Mixed Housing Zone into two sub-options. In short a two storey option and a three storey option.

From the Addendum and out of the 26 June Workshop

24. The following interim direction was generally agreed at the 26 June 2013 workshop in relation
to the Mixed Housing zone:
a. Investigate splitting the mixed housing zone into two sub-zones and investigate options
as follows:

1. (i) A mixed housing sub-zone, generally located next to the Terrace House and Apartment Building zone and centres;
   1. up to 3 storeys (10m) in height, restricted discretionary consent with design assessment, non–notified; Undertake further work on a possible 11m height considering practical and architectural merits.
   2. over 10m in height fully discretionary consent, silent on notification
2. (ii) A mixed housing sub-zone, generally between the above zone and the single house zone;
   1. 2 storeys (8m) permitted height limit;
   2. over 8m height fully discretionary consent with design assessment, silent on notification.
3. (iii) Officers to develop a full package of controls for both mixed housing sub-zones including:
   1. – density
   2.  landscaping
   3. – height to boundary
   4. – set backs
   5. – site coverage (different between both sub zones)
   6. – neighbourhood character
   7. – infrastructure availability (including community facilities)
   8. – topography
4. (iv) Investigate opportunities to zone areas of the current Single House zone into the two storey Mixed Housing sub-zone where there are no heritage or environmental constraints. This requires discussion with local boards at the mapping workshop.

 

I went and took a look at my own submission and discovered something canny; check this out:

From my Feedback to the Draft Unitary Plan

Page 31

Unitary Plan Zone		BR:AKL Zone		Note
Single House		Low Density		Under LD1 Sub Zone
Mixed Zone		Low and Medium Density		Under LD2 and MD1 Sub Zones

Page 42

Refined Definitions of Alternative Zonings for the Unitary Plan

 

Residential Zones

 

Zone Type	What can be built	Notes
Low Standard Density Zone	Mostly single family homes to be built. Some infill allowed Minimum Lot Size 450m2	Two Storeys Maximum permitted, Three Storeys a Restricted Discretionary Activity
Low-Intensive Density Zone	Mostly single family homes to be built. More intensive infill allowed Minimum Lot Size 300m2	Two Storeys Maximum permitted, Three Storeys is a Restricted Discretionary Activity Apartments and Terraced Housing are non-complying
Medium Classic Density Zone	Ranging from single homes through to Walk-Up Apartments and Terrace Housing Minimum size lot for single house is 300m2	Up to three storeys as permitted activity. Four Storeys is a Restricted Discretionary Activity. Above four storeys is non-complying

Note in regards to definitions and alternatives stemming from embedded blog articles used in this submission:

• LD1 = Low Standard Density Zone
• LD2 = Low-Intensive Density Zone
• MD1 = Medium Classic Density Zone

———

Canny? Hmm so where does that invoice go to? But, at this point time I believe I can say that there is the situation that Council IS actually paying attention and meaningful changes are coming through the Unitary Plan slowly. Of course there is still plenty of work to go with the UP before it ever becomes operative.

Most of all eyes are all front as the first round of recommendations go through tomorrow the Committee. For one thing it will be GAME ON!

 

TALKING AUCKLAND

APC Addendum

Feedback to Draft Unitary Plan

 

 

Related articles

• Height limit three storeys, not two (nzherald.co.nz)
• Debunking Mixed Housing Zone Myths (voakl.net)
• That 10 Metre – 3 Storey House (voakl.net)
• Hypocrisy Exposed? (voakl.net)
• Myths of the Unitary Plan (voakl.net)
• Debunking Orsman – Again and Again (voakl.net)
• Council considers changes to building height plans (radionz.co.nz)
• Council tones down plans (nzherald.co.nz)