305 Chadwick Rd, where Celta Saxon Corp want to build a Special Housing Area. Photo/GoogleMaps
Residents are being asked what they think about Special Housing Areas potentially being built in Wairakei in Papamoa East and in Greerton.
The Special Housing Areas would add about 344 houses to Tauranga's housing stock and an apartment building with 59 units.
Developer Celt Saxon has approached Tauranga City Council to build on the corner of Sherson St and Chadwick Rd.
The proposed development was to build 71 two-and-three bedroom townhouses and a three-level apartment building with 59 two-bedroom units.
The site was zoned for industrial development, but its size and walking distance to Greerton Town Centre made it more suitable for residential development.
Celt Saxon's vision was to provide housing for the first-home buyer, director David Hamilton said.
The area was bounded by existing houses to the north and south and the Kopurererua Valley to the west.
The proposed development exceeded the height limits in suburban residential zones but remained beneath the height limits in the industrial zone.
An initial assessment of the effects of the development on existing infrastructure - including transportation, water supply, wastewater and stormwater - appeared to be acceptable. However, the council would consider it more in-depth if the project proceeded.
Developer Bluehaven Holdings Limited has requested a Special Housing Area on land adjacent to their existing Golden Sands development in Wairakei and able to provide 273 new houses.
The land was zoned as an active open space, but that was removed in 2011.
However, the land was currently subject to a rezoning process - Plan Change 25 - which was consulted on at the end of last year and due to be heard before an independent commissioner at the end of May.
A timeframe for resolving Plan Change 25 was uncertain, but if it resulted in the land being rezoned for residential use, then a Special Housing Area would be unnecessary.
Mayor Greg Brownless said the council would take into account what the independent hearings commissioner recommended on Plan Change 25, as well as feedback from the public when considering this SHA.
"We are aware that we received a number of submissions on the proposed rezoning of the active reserve through the plan change process. We will take the issues raised in these submissions into consideration," he said.
Hundreds of Papamoa residents submitted on the rezoning issue - most worried about losing the beach ambience as more and more people were packed in.
"... given the pace of growth the city is currently experiencing, we have to consider this proposal. We are under pressure to provide sufficient housing supply to meet demand over the next few years," Mr Brownless said.
Bluehaven chief executive Nathan York said the company was keen to advance the development.
"We now want to complete development in the best timeframes possible. This is why we applied for the Special Housing Area."
In addition to the 273 new houses, there would be local purpose reserves and a 1.28ha stormwater reserve.
The development would be serviced by existing and new infrastructure, including the extension of Te Okuroa Drive to Livingstone Drive.
Consultation documents providing details on the proposals, the process and context were available at www.tauranga.govt.nz/council-a-z/housing-accord/proposed-special-housing-areas, along with the detailed development proposals and information about how community members can give their feedback.
Responses must be received by 5pm Monday, May 29, 2017.
SHAs
- help bring more housing to the market faster through a fast-tracked consenting process
- these are proposed by developers, considered by council and if supported, submitted to the Minister of Building and Construction for a final decision