Council opts to keep check on density housing in Waipa¯ district
Waipa¯ councillors unanimously voted last week to “maintain some control” over the housing densification forced onto the district by central government legislation.
“We need to take every opportunity we are given. So when we talk to the community, we can say hand on heart we have done the best for them,” Waipa¯ Mayor Jim Mylchreest said.
A new law makes it compulsory for councils to increase housing density in residentially zoned areas and relax policies that would normally protect urban character and amenities in the district. Similar to other tier 1 growth councils, there will be significant changes to Waipa¯ District Council’s district plan.
An issues and options report for the Resource Management (Enabling Housing Supply and Other Matters) Amendment Act explores three possibilities for the council to implement the legislative changes.
All councillors were united in their fight against uncontrolled urban densification and voted on option three at the council’s strategic planning and policy committee meeting on Tuesday.
“Option three takes every opportunity we can to try and control the blanket reform. A one- size-fits-all
approach, does not suit our district and could erode the very essence of Waipa¯. We’ll be fighting the act every step of the way on behalf of our residents. We want everyone to keep enjoying a laid-back lifestyle that offers space and character in our towns within a semi-rural setting,” Jim said.
Option three inserts the Government’s Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS) into the district plan and reviews financial
contributions. It also attempts to leverage “qualifying matters” to make some urban residential areas of Cambridge and Te Awamutu exempt from the MDRS.
“The level of detail required to justify exemptions from the act will be time and resource intensive, particularly identifying the impacts of increased residential densification on our existing infrastructure and on the Waikato River, but it will be 100 per cent worthwhile,” said Wayne Allan, group manager district growth and regulatory services.
“We’ll employ additional experts to investigate all potential exemptions and collect the evidence to support them.
“Plan Change 26 has the potential to be one of the few council district plan changes notified in 2022 given the level of resources needed to investigate the impacts on our communities that is so important for Waipa¯.”
The mayor said the council was committed to sound planning objectives that not only protect existing residents, but make provision for higher-density living in the appropriate locations.
Elected members also voted on the scope of Plan Change 21, a companion plan change running alongside Plan Change 26 in the district Plan.
The council initiated Plan Change 21 to strengthen urban design requirements and to investigate the intensification of growth cells T6 (St Leger Rd) and C11 (Cambridge Rd) with provision to enable affordable housing through the potential use of inclusionary zoning.
Plan Changes 21 and 26 will be notified to the public at the same time by August 20. Residents are encouraged to have their say by making a submission.
“Our council and community are not averse to pushing back. We are encouraging everyone to use every tool they possibly can to protect what we have in Waipa¯,” said deputy mayor Liz Stolwyk.