Category: Urban Planning and Design

Looking at Urban Planning and Design

Unitary Plan Huh?

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Interesting Provision for Planning Officers during the Unitary Plan Hearings

 

I have a lot of time for Bob Dey who is a veteran writer on Auckland issues (as well as other matters). Bob is often on the media table alongside me and others when we are “doing our thing” on reporting on these Auckland issues. I can safely say Bob does not have much time for “bollocks” that can go on, something I have little time for either.

I picked up on one of Bob’s own blog posts proceedings at the most recent Unitary Plan Committee meeting (the Committee that provides directions to planning officers while the Unitary Plan Independent Hearings happen) something that I found odd and Bob most certainly did. Might get an email flicked to Council seeking clarification.

From Bob Dey’s Property Report

Key unitary plan issues listed

on Sunday 6 July 2014 in Land use, Planning, Sectors, Spatial plan 0
Auckland Council plan development manager JohnDuguid has set out a list of key unitary plan issues – from the council perspective – based on initial submissions. It might change once the period for further submissions closes on 22 July.Biggest topic is zoning, particularly residential zoning.

9400 submitters have raised almost 100,000 submission points. Mr Duguid says in a report for the council’s unitary plan committee on Tuesday as many as 700 topics might require a hearing.

The council is in a different position from usual at the unitary plan hearings, which will be before an independent panel, will involve prehearing meetings & mediation and will see the council staff not as advisors to the panel but as submitters.

Estimates are that prehearing meetings will start in September and the hearings will start in November, ending in April 2016.

Just to keep the process rolling, the council’s unitary plan committee has to agree to positions to be adopted at prehearings, mediation and during the formal hearings. Submitting parties will have to do the same, or the process won’t be completed within the 2016 deadline for hearings to be completed.

…

One unusual admission in Mr Duguid’s report – on which he didn’t elaborate – is that “there may be situations where council staff are unable to support the council’s position (as directed by the unitary plan committee). Should this occur, attempts will be made to find a consultant who is able to support the council’s position. The committee does, however, need to be aware that such a situation could result in the council’s position being set out at the hearings without any supporting expert evidence.”

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Source: http://www.propbd.co.nz/key-unitary-plan-issues-listed/

 

The Committee Paper has it here: 9 Unitary plan, update [point 17]

Okay can someone in Council explain what this means please as this seem perplexing.

 

 

Further Unitary Plan Submissions Close July 22

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Get that submission in – however, conditions apply

 

From Auckland Council

Not too late for further submission to Unitary Plan

 

Further submissions to the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan close on 22 July 2014.

These are limited to being either in support or opposition to changes to the plan, as requested in the over 9,400 original submissions which contained requests for nearly 100,000 changes.

Only people or entities with an interest greater than the general public or who represent a matter of public interest can make a further submission.

For information on making a further submission visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/unitaryplan

Further submissions will be presented to the Auckland Unitary Plan Independent Hearings Panel which will consider all submissions to the plan over the next two years.

The final unitary plan is not expected to be made operative until late 2016.

 

—ends—

 

I will leave with this those quote:

Political Quote of the Day: “There is a great difference between knowing and understanding: you can know a lot about something and not really understand it.” Charles F. Kettering

 

Expressions of Interest for Quay Street Upgrade Called For

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Lets see what the local, national and international community can come up with

 

Yesterday I had blogged on the City Centre Integration Group update on where things were with Quay Street.

From my From the Auckland Development Committee post:

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City Centre Integration Update – Monthly update

  • Downtown Precinct Framework: subset of opportunities that builds on the City Centre Master Plan and Integrated Transport Program (being some mentioned)
  • One of five frameworks under-way
  • Draft Downtown Precinct Framework to seek consideration in August Auckland Development Committee
  • Provides finer detail and strategies on how the downtown precinct interconnects with other City Centre projects
  • Sea Wall needing upgrading due seismic activity with upgrade under way.
    • Full upgrade to start next year but options to be considered on work scheme required
    • Sea Wall upgrade will take into sea level rise and climatic change situations
  • Quay Street identified by the City Centre Master Plan as an important project for the City that Council wants to get under way. An Expression of Interest is out to the market (see Downtown story update). Multi-agency role and review of the contenders for the Quay Street project
  • Quay Street:  undergrounding the street for intra-regional traffic movement while open space above? Possibility especially with Sea Wall major upgrade. This was mentioned by Councillor Mike Lee especially as Quay Street is used as a freight thoroughfare for Port of Auckland’s North Auckland and Northland freight traffic
  • Quay Street: Transport solutions for the east-west arterial. Councillor Brewer seeking reassurance on traffic flows for the area.
  • Councillor Fletcher: Looking at public space provisions. The want to humanise Quay Street and the concepts will look at the pro-humanisation approach. That is the socialisation and interaction in the area.The agencies and Councillors have been positive and willing with the Downtown Precinct and Quay Street upgrades.
  • Public consultation on Quay Street: unknown until Expression of Interest is complete
  • Aotea Station in regards to North Shore Line: No definite proposals or thinking on-line designation

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First mention of the Expression of Interest for Quay Street was made a fortnight ago at a briefing by the Deputy Mayor, and Urban Design Champion Ludo Campbell-Reid which I picked up here: A Story of Downtown Auckland [Updated]

 

Late yesterday the Council put out a presser signally that they are now looking at Expressions of Interest for Quay Street.

From Auckland Council:

Auckland Council seeks designers for redevelopment of Quay Street

Auckland Council is seeking proposals from designers to assist with the future redevelopment of Quay Street. 

Quay Street has been earmarked for change under the City Centre Master Plan – a blueprint for the future use of the central city. 

The council is issuing a request for expressions of interest from design consultants. 

Concept designs for development of Quay Street will be considered by the Auckland Development Committee, and Aucklanders will have an opportunity to have their say before designs are finalised. 

“We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to create a great waterfront and city centre, and we need the best designers working with us as we develop our proposals to transform this area,” Deputy Mayor and Auckland Development Committee Chair Penny Hulse said. 

City Centre integration general manager Rick Walden, said the project was at a very early stage. “As options are developed we will be seeking input from the wider community.” 

The council aims to complete the appointment of a design team in November. 

 

Background 

  • A draft ‘Site and Context Analysis’ report was prepared in September 2012 with the purpose of developing a baseline understanding of Quay Street to inform the design process
  • A ‘Design Framework’ was then completed for the Quay Street Project in June 2013
  • This work included a draft concept design for Quay Street’s streetscape upgrade and aspirational conceptual proposals for the Ferry Basin, Admiralty Basin and Ferry Building promenade water’s edge areas
  • The project has since progressed through a period of co-ordination and integration with other related Downtown projects and developments
  • The request for expressions of interest document will be available on Tenderlink www.lgtenders.co.nz and GETS http://www.gets.govt.nz/

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Lets see what the design community comes up with before the short list goes out for public submissions