Map of medium density zones open for comment

A map showing the areas the city council proposes become a new medium density residential zone is now available.

The council is keen to hear feedback from the community on its proposal to increase the areas of Palmerston North where medium density housing is allowed.

The areas have been proposed for medium density housing due to their walkable distance to things people may use on a regular basis, like bus stops, parks, schools and shopping centres, chief planning officer David Murphy.

New homes in the proposed zone would be able to be built taller and closer together.

The plan change also proposes a set range of quality standards for new homes that if met would no longer require notification of neighbours or resource consent.

The release of the map shows areas of the city where landowners would now have more options as to what they build on their properties, Murphy says.

“Palmerston North, like the rest of New Zealand, needs more homes. Medium density housing means landowners now have a range of housing types available to them, and therefore so will our home buyers and renters.”

Homes within the zone could be up to three storeys with a minimum site size of 150m2 per dwelling. This means more could be contained within a site and developers could make better use of the city’s airspace as real estate. The minimum lot size for the residential zone in the current District Plan is 350m2.

“Not everyone wants or needs a three-bedroom home on a full section,” Murphy says. “With household sizes shrinking, medium density gives the option of smaller sections where residents can walk to the things they need on a daily basis. This may be very appealing for people who’d rather be at the local park than mowing the lawns.”

Family homes on single sections could still be built and changes within neighbourhoods would likely be gradual over the coming decades.

“Medium density is already enabled within 800 metres of the city centre and around our neighbourhood shopping centres in Hokowhitu, Milson, Highbury and Awapuni. What we’ve seen so far is a gradual change, with some developers building more on each site and others sticking with traditional type homes.

“The proposed plan change aims to cut red tape and make housing more accessible. Meeting the requirements without having to go through a resource consent process means more homes can be built faster, and hopefully cheaper.”

Enabling more housing within the urban area we’re already using can reduce our climate emissions by making it easier for people to walk, bus, scooter or bike to get around the city instead of relying on cars, Murphy says. It also helps reduce the need to expand into our rural environment.

The map and more information is available at pncc.govt.nz/growing.

There is also an online feedback form you can fill out there.

Alternatively, you can pick up a paper form from the Customer Service Centre and libraries. To talk about the plan change in person go to the drop-in session between 1pm — 3pm on Sunday at the Palmerston North Conference & Function Centre.

This feedback period closes at 5pm on December 7.