A proposed subdivision in Outram has received a boost after
Dunedin City Council planners did an about turn to support a
plan change that could lead to development approval.
Council planners had not supported the proposal to rezone the
site from rural to residential before a hearing on the
application this week, but yesterday said they were now
satisfied developer, Two Note Ltd, had addressed most of
their concerns, particularly those about infrastructure and
amenity.
If Two Note's application for a private plan change is
successful, it will apply for resource consent to construct a
28-lot subdivision on a 7.7ha site in Formby St, Outram.
Planner Darryl Sycamore said he would support the plan change
as long as a detailed structure plan for the proposed
subdivision and the results of comprehensive soil testing, to
rule out contamination, were submitted to the committee
before a decision was made.
In delivering his response to Two Note's submissions, Mr
Sycamore said he was satisfied with the developer's agreement
to height restrictions and setbacks on some sites, but he
found the concept of the sites being touted as affordable
housing "relatively curious".
"I have yet to see any residential 5 sites in Dunedin city
that are within the budgets of many in our community."
Earlier, the committee received evidence from Two Note's soil
specialist who concluded a sample of the soil on the site was
not so contaminated it limited what the site could be used
for, but Mr Sycamore said he did not agree that a single
sample from the top 10cm of the soil profile could confirm
the site could be used for residential purposes, and the
evidence should be read with caution.
City councillor Teresa Stevenson was the only submitter to
present her submission verbally on the second day of the
hearing yesterday.
She opposed the plan change because there was a lack of
evidence more residential development would improve the
Outram community's resilience, potentially productive
farmland would be lost, there was no need for more
residential sites, and the subdivision proposal contradicted
the recently adopted spatial plan.
If the plan change was to be accepted, it should be for less
and smaller sites whose owners would have a collective
responsibility for the remaining rural land - a farm park
model - which would make the sites less desirable, so more
affordable, and retain the rural amenity of the area.
The hearings committee, of chairman Cr Colin Weatheral and
Crs Kate Wilson and Andrew Noone adjourned the hearing to
make a site visit and await those items before hearing
closing arguments from the developer, and making its
decision, likely in the new year.
debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz
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