Townhouse development for Richmond

The planned development of six two-storey townhouses on a site at Richmond breaks new territory, says a real estate agent.

Earmarked for a high-profile site on the corner of Arbor-Lea Ave and Salisbury Rd that houses a former vet clinic and cattery, the six proposed three-bedroom homes are to range in size from about 176 square metres to 183 square metres including an upstairs deck for each townhouse.

The developer is Future Investments 3000 Ltd whose directors are Brent and Viv Liebezeit. They are the pastors at Annesbrook Church. Construction is tipped to begin mid-2018.

Harcourts real estate agent Franklin Op den Buysch said he had been working in the area for 23 years and struggled to name any properties similar to the proposed development.

‘‘It’s breaking new territory,’’ he said.

The development involves twostorey units arranged in three blocks of two attached townhouses.

Two on-site car parks are planned for each unit including an internal single garage.

The average three-bedroom home was about 180 square metres, Op den Buysch said.

‘‘These townhouses are probably a little bit bigger than average [townhouses]. They are, in essence, regular three-bedroom homes.’’

Expressions of interest only were invited at this stage. Op den Buysch declined to reveal what he expected that price tag would read.

Land use, subdivision and discharge consents were granted to construct the six-unit development following a commissioner hearing in October.

In his November 8 decision, commissioner Dean Chrystal says the application was notified on a limited basis to the owners and occupiers of 17 adjoining and adjacent properties in Arbor-Lea Ave, Salisbury Rd and Astelia Place.

Thirteen submissions were received, all opposing the proposal.

Key issues raised by the submitters included concern about loss of privacy, increased flooding potential from stormwater run off and increased traffic and parking.

However, 1m-high opaque glass was now proposed for the balconies at some locations to address key privacy concerns

In June, Tasman District councillors declined to recommend the proposed development as a special housing area with some councillors pointing to the fact it was already going through the resource consent process.

News of the Arbor-Lea development comes as further submissions closed on the council’s proposed rule changes to encourage higher-density housing in central Richmond.

Under the proposals, the minimum lot size would be reduced from 350 square metres to 200 square metres. Other earmarked changes included increased building coverage of 50 per cent and increased height of 7.5m, which enables two storeys.

The council received 21 submissions on the proposed rule changes.