A Dunedin family are ‘‘gutted'' the consent for a controversial subdivision has been declined and shattered their dream of owning a new home.
David Griffiths and his fiancee Megan Macaulay and children Liam (9) and Quinn (1) were shocked the Dunedin City Council's hearings committee declined a consent application to subdivide 16ha of land, despite a council planner recommending its approval.
The 34-lot subdivision was proposed for Dalziel Rd, Halfway Bush.
The Griffiths family had outgrown their 80sq m Helensburgh house and had paid a deposit on the 2000sq m of land.
The family had a pre-approved mortgage and building plans.
‘‘We were ready to go,'' Mr Griffiths said.
The committee declining the consent was a shock because council planner Lianne Darby had recommended the committee grant consent.
Mr Griffiths and Miss Macaulay still wanted to build a new home and feared they would have to build in Abbotsford or Mosgiel to realise their dream and be further away from their parents, who lived either side of Halfway Bush.
Angela Ruske, co-owner of the Establo Alpacas and Farmstay, at 38 Dalziel Rd, who was one of 27 people to oppose consent being granted out of a total of 44 submissions, said the committee decision was ‘‘a good outcome for the community''.
‘‘It's an area we don't want to see further developed.''
If the committee had approved the consent, it would have set a ‘‘bad precedent'' by allowing a residential subdivision in a rural zone.
Ms Darby considered the proposed subdivision and residential development would not set an undesirable precedent for the development of rural-zoned land.
Ms Darby believed the land was no longer rural in character because of a previous subdivision.
However, the committee - Crs Andrew Noone and Andrew Whiley and independent commissioner David Whitney - decided the effects on amenity values and rural character were more than minor.
The man behind the subdivision, Tom Richardson, a director of RPR Properties Ltd, said he was ‘‘more than a little surprised at the decision'' and was seeking legal and planning advice before talking to media.
Mr Griffiths hoped Mr Richardson would appeal to the Environment Court to overrule the decision.
