Selwyn_Times: October 18, 2023

Selwyn Times Wednesday October 18 2023
4
NEWS
Site has little rural
value, group says
• From page 1
The land backs onto Barton
Fields, a residential subdivision.
“The site has direct access to
main transportation corridors
and connections to the Lincoln
township. Roading and
transportation upgrades can be
required through the consenting
process, with major upgrades
being required prior to any
substantial development,” the
appeal documentation states.
“The proposal provides a
separate pedestrian and cycle
connection to Springs Rd and
Boundary Rd intersection,
creating safer interactions
between cyclists, pedestrians and
vehicles.”
A cafe would be part of the
commercial activity which would
cater for Barton Fields residents,
the appeal says.
Townsend said Barton Fields
developer Mike Greer Homes
had initially opposed the plan to
rezone the land, but since then
had changed its position after
changes were made to impact
residents less.
Mike Greer Homes did not
respond to questions from
Selwyn Times.
The group argues in its
appeal while the Springs Rd
and Boundary Rd intersection
is already at capacity other
developments, like the 1710-
home Lincoln South which uses
Springs Rd as the main entry and
exit point, would see the road
needing upgrades anyway.
The group said it could be
a financial contributor to the
upgrades if required.
It argues the site holds little
value for rural use as the land is
not highly productive and would
be better served for industrial
use.
“The economic benefits
of industrial zoning greatly
outweigh retention of the site as
rural lifestyle blocks. There will
be significant economic benefits
associated with rezoning to
industrial,” it said in the appeal.
It said the site’s design would
result in minimal disturbance
to neighbours with height
restrictions on outer buildings,
and only certain colours
allowed.
“Building height restrictions
from the eastern boundary
and Springs Rd frontage (will)
preserve amenity of existing
residential development at
Birches Rd subdivision.”
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Appeal for Prebbleton
subdivision to go ahead
• By Daniel Alvey
AN APPEAL on the District
Plan may be the last chance for a
subdivision in Prebbleton to be
approved.
The Birchs Village subdivision
could see 37ha of rural land on
Birchs Rd rezoned to residential,
enabling about 400 homes to be
built.
Prior to the proposed District
Plan being signed off council
had already rejected a private
plan change in August, based
on the recommendation from
Commissioner Paul Thomas.
Thomas’ reasons for his recommendation
included the location
not achieving a compact urban
form for Prebbleton, and the plan
change not giving effect to the
National Policy Statement for
Highly Productive Land.
The land is on mostly class
1 and 2 soils, which have been
given enhanced protection in the
new legislation.
Thomas said in addition the
plan change, PC79, did not offer
enough development capacity to
meet the criteria of the National
Policy Statement on Urban Development
and was not required
to meet residential capacity demand
in the life of the operative
Selwyn District Plan. This demand
was “more than satisfied”
by two other recent plan changes
in the area, being Plan Change
68 and Plan Change 72.
The appeal asks for the area to
either be rezoned as general residential
land or included as part
of the urban growth overlay.
It argues the site is strategically
located across the road from the
Birchs Rd recreation reserve,
known as Kakaha Park, and it
would bring the new reserve into
the township.
“Providing land for future
residential use increases housing
resources leading to an expanded
PC79: The
rural zoning of
37ha of land
in Prebbleton
is one of 25
appeals on the
District Plan.
social and economic base for
the strategically located rural
township. Servicing connections
currently exist north along
Birchs Rd, allowing for extension
to existing infrastructure and
services,” the appeal said.
Selwyn Times approached
neighbours who opposed the
subdivision for comment but
they declined, wanting to seek
legal advice before making a
public statement.
In July when Thomas’ decision
was released on the plan change
request, one of the neighbours,
John Sheaf, said he was “thrilled
to bits” by the recommendation.
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