Summerset win first round of scrap
Summerset has won the first round of what could be a long legal fight to develop a $100 million retirement village in Lower Hutt. Independent commissioners have agreed to a proposal to re-zone 2.9 hectares for the proposed retirement village in the Boulcott suburb.
Since announcing its intention to develop land that was formerly part of the nearby golf course, Summerset has faced staunch opposition, with neighbours raising money to fight the proposal.
The residents say a retirement village will detract from the character of the area, which has some of the most valuable property in Lower Hutt.
With an election looming, Hutt City councillors will have to make a big call on Thursday night. In a report to the last council meeting before the election, council officers warned the politicians against rejecting the plan change.
‘‘The consequences of rejecting the recommendation would be significant. The plan change process would not end – it would simply repeat in part, another hearing would be required - and land back at council again as a recommended decision to be approved or rejected.’’
A second hearing would be expensive and was likely to arrive at the same decision, the report said. ’’An observer could perceive council as predetermining the outcome if it repeated the process until it received a particular recommendation.’’
The plan change does not give Summerset the green light to proceed. It will still need to get resource consent.
Mayor Ray Wallace said the council had little room to move on the recommendation.
Independent legal advice made it clear the council was not in a position to say ‘‘no’’ or try to delay the process.
‘‘The advice is quite clear, there is no grounds to stop this.’’
Wallace was not surprised by the decision and said the commissioners did a thorough job.
‘‘I think the Boulcott Preservation Society and residents were given a fair hearing.’’
He has not spoken to councillors and is not sure what their reaction is likely to be.
The commissioners had imposed some height and bulk restrictions, which Wallace believed showed the residents’ concerns were listened to. Summerset chief executive Julian Cook welcomed the decision.
* Hutt City councillors will discuss the commissioner’s recommendation on Thursday at 7pm, Council Chambers, Laings Rd.