Council review coming to a close

With just days left to have your say on Palmerston North City Council’s review of the rural zone and boundary change areas, staff are reminding those interested in making a submission to get cracking.

Submissions close at 5pm on Monday and city planner David Murphy says he hopes the interest shown to date will result in some good quality feedback.

“We’ve been really impressed with the level of interest in the review. Over 70 attended the recent Plan Change open days, taking the opportunity to discuss issues with staff in person,” he said.

Online resources have also proven valuable with over 1500 hits recorded on the Palmerston North City Council website, the interactive mapping feature proving popular.

“The planning team is continuing to field a strong number of enquiries. Plenty of face-to-face meetings and site visits are taking place. We’re also seeing an increase in enquiries from landowners living outside the region,” he says.

Most public interest has centred on the rural components of Plan Change 15, particularly around Plan Change 15A: Rural Zone and Rural Subdivision Review and Plan Change 15B: Wind Farms and Landscapes.

Plan Change 15A focuses on ways to make the most of our most productive land. It proposes to reduce the area identified for rural residential subdivision, make more land available for horticultural growth and allow for horticultural subdivision in the Flood Protection Zone. It directly affects those planning to subdivide land.

Plan Change 15B will update the provisions of the Rural Zone relating to wind farms and introduce new land use controls to protect the outstanding natural features and landscapes of the Tararua Ranges.

“People seem to understand how significant these areas are to the future of our city and would like to see a balance between sustainable economic growth and quality of life,” David said.

“Once Council staff have gathered and analysed feedback, they will prepare a formal District Plan Change that will propose the actual amendments to the District Plan. This process involves two rounds of submissions and a public hearing before a decision is made on the proposed amendments to the District Plan.”

Anyone wanting further information can go to pncc.govt.nz search Plan Change 12 and 15, or call 356 8199. Submissions close at 5pm Monday April 28, 2014.
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