Restricting subdivision in some specific areas of Wanganui could be seen as an impediment to growth, according to one Wanganui District councillor.
Councillors have been working through changes to the District Plan and the next stage looks specifically at development in some rural zones.
Plan Change 36 reviews the existing provisions in relation to the rural settlement zone and would see the creation of Rural Zone A.
This is intended to protect areas of high-quality soil (Class 1 and 2 soils) which may be bordering existing urban settlements.
Council officers said these areas could be subject to pressure from potential residential or rural lifestyle development. The land particularly affected by this change was in the Westmere area.