Big Mission Bay plan turned down
A plan to build a $200 million highrise housing and retail block on Mission Bay’s beachfront has been refused resource consent because it would be too tall.
The proposal by developers Urban Partners would have seen Mission Bay given a major facelift but would have required the demolition of some of the area’s most well-known buildings.
Drive Holdings had applied to the Auckland Council for resource consent to build on a 6527sq m block between Ta¯maki Dr, Patteson Ave and Marau Crescent.
The tallest building would have been seven storeys — or 28m — high.
The project proposed up to 100 apartments and 265 basement carparks, retail and hospitality spaces and a cinema multiplex.
Seven new buildings were planned, four of which exceed height limits specified in the new Unitary Plan, Auckland’s planning rule book. The tallest was on on the corner of Tamaki Drive and Patteson Ave.
The site is zoned Business — Local Centre in the Unitary Plan, which allows buildings up to 16m high, plus a 2m allowance for the roof.
The plan ran into strong opposition, with submitters concerned views of the Hauraki Gulf would be blocked and the development would change Mission Bay’s character.
The resource consent application drew a strong response with nearly 700 submissions, of which 70 were in favour.
Thirty people made submissions in person at the hearing held over six days in July and August.
In a decision released yesterday by the Auckland Council, the independent hearing commissioners said the consent had been declined based on the visual effects the development would have had on the area.
“Overall, the adverse effects of the proposal to construct a new multilevel mixed-use development would be unacceptable,” they wrote.
“The excess height of the proposal will result in adverse visual and dominance effects on the amenity of the surrounding environment, including the local centre environment itself, nearby residential areas that overlook the site, and the wider landscape.”
The development was also inconsistent with some aspects of Auckland’s Unitary Plan, the city’s planning document.
Doug Osborne, the developer’s project director, said Urban Partners was “disappointed at the planning committee’s decision”.
“Our vision is of a legacy project that serves the current community and future generations,” he said. “We don’t want to see Mission Bay left behind while the rest of Auckland grows. We remain committed to the long-term future of Mission Bay and will now take guidance from our advisors and review our options.”
The Orakei Local Board, which represents the area, had expressed strong reservations about the height of the proposed buildings.
Though its comments did not constitute a formal submission, the Local Government Act allows the board to make the interests and preferences of the people in the area known.
The board supported the development only if all aspects complied with the Unitary Plan.
It said Mission Bay had a “unique sense of place”, provided a muchloved amphitheatre for locals and visitors and had a blend of coastal village charm and thriving hospitality sustained by historically lower-rise development.
The applicant has 15 working days to file an appeal with the Environment Court after receiving the decision.