The Hastings District Council has taken another step to pave the way for more inner-city living, giving the go-ahead for staff to investigate a variation to the proposed Hastings District Plan.
The council's planning and regulatory committee met yesterday and heard from environmental policy team leader Megan Gaffaney that like other provincial towns and cities, Hastings faced challenges from changing retail trends, which in turn put into question the function of these urban centres.
One of the key objectives of the Hastings city centre strategy was to bring returns to businesses ,with more people living in close proximity, improved vibrancy, reduced transport pressures and congestion, and housing choices that would reduce pressure on growing areas, she said.
Currently zoned central commercial, residential activities were permitted on first floor sites in the Hastings CBD as long as they had designated retail frontage.
If outside the designated retail frontage a non-complying resource consent was required.