A satellite town planned for Papamoa East will be built on the basis that everything will be within a five-minute walk or cycle-ride.
A huge ``charrette'', or think-tank, is under way at Papamoa Surf Club with the aim of ensuring that the 25,000 people in the 340ha town can live most of their lives within a short distance from home.
Cars will become less important and residents will be encouraged to communicate with their neighbours as part of a ``village'' lifestyle.
Under the scheme, residents will be able to walk or cycle to the beach, theatres, cinemas, library, schools, shops, emergency services and health providers.
Houses will face reserves, giving a sense of community.
The charrette involves intensive discussions with representatives from every aspect of planning about the future shape of the town.
They include iwi, architects, cultural groups, education, business, Government departments, builders and community groups.
Throughout the process, ideas are constantly being transferred on to a plan by a large team of designers, then taken back to the charrette for further discussion and alteration.
Charrette co-leader Demetri Baches said the next interest group could come in and decide a previous idea was impractical, unsuitable or culturally insensitive.
``Then we start over again,'' he said. ``Over the 10 days of the charrette, 10 months' work is done. It's very intense and the plan is constantly evolving. Eventually we get it right.''
Mr Baches, from Duany Plater-Zyberk and Company of Florida, and Australian Mike Day, director of Roberts Day town planners and designers, are well versed in the process of building an entire town - both have been involved with similar projects around the world.
A town based on the concept has been developed in Queenstown.
The Papamoa project will be known as Wairakei, and is being drawn up at the request of developers Bluehaven Holdings and Hawridge Developments.
Tauranga City Council's SmartGrowth project is based on the concept, Mr Baches said. Mr Day said the final concept would lay the foundations for the future directions in town planning for generations to come.
He said the designs were based on pre-war communities, where everyone knew their neighbours and felt safe in their street.
"It takes family values into account," he said. "There is a preoccupation with the protracted process of legalities and consents so, too often, inadequate time is spent on design," he said. "It should be the other way round."
The public will be able to have input tomorrow, between 2pm and 5pm tomorrow.
Designs will be on display at the Papamoa Surf Club, and the team will be available to discuss ideas or suggestions.
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