Urban Plan concerns

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 575, 28 February 1995, Page 14

Urban Plan concerns

A number of urban zone residents expressed concern about the esplanade reserve rules in the Proposed District Plan at last week's FF meeting on the Subject. Ohakune resident Noel Shepherd asked what would happen if a person wanted to subdivide land where a building was on the 20-metre esplanade reserve area. Mr Page said a subdivision applicant in such a case could put a case to the council for alteration to the boundary to take into account the building. He said if someone applied to build on land that was within 20 metres of a stream, the council could not turn it down if it was a permitted activity and it qualified for a building permit. Mr Shepherd said there were many urban sections where a large proportion of the section is on the potential reserve. The meeting was told that there are districts that have decided they will pay compensation for land taken in urban areas. Mr Forrest suggested people ask council to consider existing buildings and practicalities of access (to reserves) when it looks at taking reserves. Joe Martin said the Mangateitei Stream should be deleted from the list (see rural Plan story this page) because there were already sufficient reserves bounding the river. "Esplanade reserves are going to be a great big hassle for the council," said Mr Martin. Residential zones Under the Plan the urban areas now include three types of residential zone. Residential High Zone provides for high density residential development, similar to the ,old Apres Ski Zone. Activities such as taverns have been excluded. Ohakune, Waiouru, National Park and Taumarunui have Residential High Zones. Rules: maximum height for building has been reduced from 10 metres to 7.5 metres; traffic movements for home enterprise activities are restricted in this zone; and health

care services are permitted activities, as are education activities, Residential Medium Zorte "provide for consolidated areas of medium density residential environment". Similar rule changes to those for the Residential High Zone have been made with lower scales. The maximum building height in this zone is also 7.5 metres. Residential Low Zone is a new zone that applies to "miich of the Tainui Street and Ruapehu Road area". Its purpose is to recognise a potential future residential area of Ohakune, while retaining a density of development that does not require additional community infrastructure". The zone is similar to the previous Residential B Zone. It takes in small parcels of land which are "not likely to be utilised for rural purposes". "Subdivisional development should not occur in this area until it is reticulated for sewage, due to the presence of a high water table." The rules are similar to the Residential Medium Zone but with development density considerably less. FOOTNOTE: The Ruapehu District Council Proposed District Plan is a document of two-volumes, 147 pages plus appendices and maps. A wide range of land-use activities are controlled by the Plan. Readers who are interested or concerned can view the Plan at the district' s libraries or service centres, or buy copies of the plan.