Draft Urban Growth Strategy

Thank you very much for your interest in the Urban Growth Strategy work that we have been undertaking recently.

During March we ran a series of drop in sessions across the District, and we asked for community feedback on the draft Growth Strategy. We had an amazing response, and want to thank everyone who provided us verbal or written information.

In the past month we have been reviewing the comments received, and have made a number of changes to the wording in the Growth Strategy and to the recommended re-zoning maps. While we haven’t been able to accomodate the wishes of everyone, we have made changes where we can see overall benefits to the wider community.

Briefly, the key changes include:

• Adopting the concept of a “Mixed Use” zoning to replace commercial, creating more flexibility for landowners within our town centres;
• Changing the legislation framework under which the Growth Strategy is considered to reflect changes being made by the current Government;
• Changing the way at which we will look to promote good quality urban development, moving away from a “guidelines” approach to more direct policy that is incorporated into the District Plan Review;
• Expanded the residential area to the west of Dannevirke to allow more space to be retained around the existing waterways;
• Carried out flood modelling of the Taupata Stream in Dannevirke to inform flood avoidance and mitigation for the Proposed District Plan Review.
• Removed the recommended industrial zoning south of Dannevirke to avoid effects on Māori owned land;
• Removed the recommended industrial zoning within Pahiatua to avoid effects on neighbouring residents and a marae;
• Various smaller changes to the location of proposed residential zoning in Woodville, Pahiatua and Eketāhuna.

The Mixed Use zone is being increasingly used in District’s such as ours to allow for a range of activities to happen on a single site. It typically allows for commercial or retail activity on the ground floor of a building (and in some circumstances light industrial might also be appropriate), with residential activity on upper floors or at the rear of buildings. Mixed Use does not allow for residential only – there must be an element of commercial on the ground floor, to ensure our town centres remain active.

Here is the Final Urban Growth Strategy

Here are the Summary of Changes of the Urban Growth Strategy

The Growth Strategy will be formally adopted by the Council in late May. However, you can still have your say on the recommendations through the District Plan Review process. This is a formal process to prepare a new District Plan for the next 10 years which includes the opportunity for everyone in our community to have their say. Any changes to zoning, including any impact on rates, will not occur until all submissions have been considered and the District Plan is adopted.

More information on the District Plan review process and how you can be involved can be found here.

In addition, keep an eye out for our upcoming community workshops on the development of our urban upgrade strategies and urban connectivity strategy over the next few months. These will be advertised on our website and social media sites, with further information available at our town offices and libraries.

Once again, thanks for your interest in the Growth Strategy work and in the development of our District.