The new strategy recommends that amendments be made to the District Plan to provide greater control over development in the rural environment. Council intends to impose stricter requirements on smaller scale rural developments by making subdivisions between four hectares and 10 hectares discretionary activities. This gives Council the ability to approve or decline an application and encourages developers to undertake innovative and environmentally sensitive developments. Subdivisions less than four hectares will be non-complying activities to deter the creation of small lifestyle blocks outside growth areas. The strategy does provide for the creation of smaller lots less than four hectares around the fringes of residential growth areas.
Currently the Proposed District Plan permits subdivision of four hectare lots in the rural environment and requires smaller lot subdivision to be considered on a case by case basis. Chairman of Council’s Regulatory and Hearings Committee Don Ormsby said this has led to a growing number of lifestyle blocks less than four hectares in size.
“These smaller blocks are having a cumulative effect on the character of the rural environment and are placing increasing pressure on Council to provide more urban services like wastewater reticulation and street lighting,” said Mr Ormsby.
He said the proposed provisions would give Council more control over the nature of small scale developments in the rural environment.
“The new growth strategy clearly defines areas where future residential growth will be encouraged. As such, it is vital for Council to ensure that development occurring outside those identified areas is consistent with the objectives and principles in the new strategy and the Resource Management Act 1991.
“The proposed amendments are not intended to prevent rural landowners subdividing lots between four and 10 hectares in rural areas, however they will give Council the ability to encourage creativity and innovative design and ensure that developers take account of environmental outcomes.”
He said Council intended to amend the Proposed District Plan to include the proposed new controls.
“That process will include further consultation with the public which will give affected parties another opportunity to air any concerns and make comment.”
He said when the Proposed District Plan was written Council had not determined which areas were more suitable than others for urban type development.
“In the absence of any growth strategy the plan had set up a framework allowing Council to deal with subdivision and land use change on a case by case basis, however this approach has not provided sufficient guidance to assist with decisions on a range of subdivision applications.
“Taupo District 2050 now provides the basis for a better managed approach to development in the rural environment.”
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