Plan for rest home worries growers

LAWRENCE GULLERY
A HASTINGS retirement village plans an expansion to meet demand, but opponents say it will come at a loss of privacy to neighbours and loss of prime agricultural land.
Retirement Care New Zealand Properties wants to expand the Gracelands Retirement Village and its aged care nursing home on Pakowhai Rd.
It proposes 26 two-bedroom single-storey villas as well as 34 apartments with a cafe, all contained within a three-storey building. There would also be a new hospital care site providing 37 beds in a two-storey building.
The project plans to use two blocks on land next to Gracelands forming an L shape, wrapping around the existing retirement village. It measures 1.9ha. One site faces Lyndhurst Rd and the other Pakowhai Rd.
Gracelands is managed by ElderCare but its general manager, Craig Perry, said he did not want to comment until after a resource consent hearing at the Hastings District Council, starting on Monday.
``There's definitely big demand in the area and we've got the existing infrastructure set up,' he said.
Opus senior planning consultant Duncan Rothwell's report to the council's hearings committee recommended approving the project with conditions, as six people have written who are opposed to the expansion.
Among the objectors is Hawke's Bay Fruit Growers' Association, which said if the development were to go ahead it would mean the loss of prime horticultural soil.
In its objection, the association said urban expansion should be limited to the areas designated for residential homes in the district plan.
Another objector, Richard Gregory, spoke to the council's hearing committee, which will have the final say on the matter.
Mr Gregory, on behalf of the Richard Gregory Family Trust, said there were ongoing problems with Gracelands when it came to managing shelter belts to stop gardening spray from the village affecting his organic orchard operation.
Other objectors dreaded the thought of a three-storey building facing their homes as well as the height of the proposed buildings which could reduce their privacy.
``We would not be happy to have a three-storey building opposite us in Pakowhai Rd ... I believe it should be on one level,' Ian and Maree Tucker said in their objection.
``It is our understanding this was what was agreed when the block of land to be used on Pakaowhai Rd was purchased,' the couple said.
Others were also worried the expansion would mean water and sewerage would be upgraded, some of which ran underneath their rural properties.
If approved, Gracelands will join other retirement villages planning expansions, including Summerset, which has a site in Taradale, Havelock North and another one being built in Ada Street, Hastings. The hearing has been set for next week.