Plan Changes a Step Closer

Thursday, 04 February 2010

At the first Council meeting for the year on Wednesday night, Councillors unanimously recommended the adoption of Plan Changes 20 and 21 for Rural Subdivision and Greenbelt Residential and Urban Growth.

Mayor Brendan Duffy stated that these documents are the most significant achievement for this Term of Council.

The issues for consideration by Council were to amend the District Plan provisions relating to subdivision of land within the rural zone, introduce a new Greenbelt Residential zone and the rezoning of existing rural and industrial zoned land for residential urban growth.

While the Resource Management Act sets the requirements for public consultation, it does not allow the delegation of powers to amend the District Plan. Independent Commissioners, who were used in this case to hear the submissions on the Plan changes and made recommendations to Council, who were then tasked with the approval and adoption of the amendments. The process of notification of the recommended changes will now go forward towards a conclusion to Plan Changes 20 & 21.

The Council adopted the changes and celebrated the progress of this two year process of carefully considered changes which will protect our productive rural environment while accommodating urban growth and lifestyle choices for the next 25 years.