Landscape glitch may delay $120m towers

By Graham Skellern
Developer Rob Donald has made some quick design changes after being told his proposed $120 million twin-tower apartment complex at Mount Maunganui had too much landscaping.
Tauranga City Council planners decided the twin towers resource consent application had to be publicly notified because the extensive landscaping, of box hedging and other plantings, on the ground and first levels would intrude in to the street space.
Dr Donald, who bought 17 existing properties between 7-13 Maunganui Rd and 6 Marine Parade to make way for his big development, took the opportunity to make some adjustments to his drawings. He re-submitted the application yesterday.
"It was an issue over the streetscape and what passers-by would see. The towers are fine, the silly thing is we were paying more money for landscaping to make it look nicer.
"I don't think it's overdone. It's easy on the eye and a nice introduction to the towers. But in the strict technical terms the landscaping didn't fully comply and I can understand the council ... they have their set of rules," Dr Donald said.
He reduced the amount of box hedging and other plantings but would still endeavour to make the landscaping attractive."
"I'm hopeful it will go through non-notified with the adjustments here and there," he said.
"The land was very expensive and we can't afford to lose any time. We've got to keep moving forward."
A council spokesperson said the initial decision to notify the consent application was based on the overall amenity, character and traffic effects and encroachment in to the street scene.
She said Dr Donald wanted to re-submit and the amended application will go through a new notification assessment.
If the application was publicly notified, then it would take three to four months before a final decision was made - the time would be taken up for a period of public submissions and conducting a hearing.
Dr Donald takes possession of the 3985sq m site on March 31 and he wants to remove the properties soon after that.
He has already begun a geotechnical investigation by drilling some bores and preparing for the foundation work.
Dr Donald is building 65 luxury apartments, 29 of them will be on two levels in the podium and owners will be able to park their cars at the front door on the first floor.
Apart from seven others in the wing facing Marine Parade, the other apartments are in the towers - the northern tower is 11 storeys and the second 10 storeys.
The 330sq m penthouse on the top floor of the northern tower is selling for a record $5.95 million, or $6.45 million if the new owner wants a private swimming pool.
The building has a sapphire blue glass exterior and a five-star hotel-style lobby on the ground floor.