High density housing hot topic
By Chrys Ayley
Increased demand for housing, affordability issues and access to transport and shopping facilities are all factors that suggest smaller building sites and higher density housing could be a long term solution for councils grappling with such issues. Hutt City Councillor Max Shierlaw is encouraging Western Ward residents to comment on planned changes to residential housing regulations which could see infill or higher density housing around shopping centres and transport routes. Western Ward councillors Max Shierlaw and Margaret Cousins held a meeting in the Maungaraki Community Centre on March 10 to discuss reactions to council?s Proposed Plan Change 12. Mr Shierlaw said it is a controversial issue which would affect Maungaraki, Alicetown and other suburbs, as section sizes would be reduced from 400sq metres to 300sq metres within five minutes walk of shopping centres. If implemented the whole character of Maungaraki, a suburb built in the 1960s, would change as section sizes could be reduced. ?In theory you could bowl down a whole section of houses and put up units,? he said. Mr Shierlaw is encouraging residents with concerns to make a submission before the closing date of Friday March 27. Councillor Roger Styles, chair of the District Plan Committee, changes in Hutt City have resulted in changes in housing needs including smaller homes ?and this coupled with declining affordability led us to think of how we could provide for the sort of housing which reflects these needs.? Copies of the Hutt City Council Proposed Plan Change are available at www.huttcity.govt.nz or by calling 570 6666. What?s happening in Porirua City? Porirua City Council manager environment and city planning Matthew Trlin says the last eight years has seen a lot of infill pressure from developers interested in ?carving up? ? acre sections especially in Titahi Bay, Plimmerton and Paremata. However, the District Plan developed in the 1990s did not set minimum lot sizes so the environment has been accommodating for in-fill housing although developers have to meet minimum standards, such as buildings not occupying more than 35 per cent of a site. Recently developers have come up with ?interesting designs? that did not trigger resource consent and with no minimum lot size there have been 2-4 units built on some properties that are not really in keeping with what the community expect, Mr Trlin said. Short term council is looking to change the District Plan to better manage in-fill development with a few rule changes. It is expected that a discussion document will be put before the community later this year. Longer term The Porirua Development Framework, expected to be adopted in April, will address in-fill issues in a more logical and planned approach, he said.
