A leaked document from Environment Court mediation shows a controversial subdivision in Evansdale, Dunedin, may go ahead, although in a reduced form.
The agreement in principle, between developer Blueskin Bay Forest Heights Ltd and the Dunedin City Council, suggests land use may be given for seven, rather than 11 lots at Wright Rd, though mediation has not yet been completed, and the document has not been signed.
In April, the council declined consent for homes to be built.
Consent had already been given for rural allotments ranging in size from 6ha-9ha, but that did not include land-use consent for residential activity.
The company could, by right, develop five subdivisions with housing on the 82ha site.
There were submissions from 27 people, all but one of whom opposed the project, with concerns ranging from the visual impact, to effects on native birds and flora, loss of amenity values on neighbouring land, traffic, and the possible housing density.
The person who leaked the document to the Otago Daily Times was angry the council had "flip-flopped" on the matter.
Cr Colin Weatherall, chairman of the resource consent committee said the matter was before the court, and the mediator had stipulated there could be no comment to the media before the mediation was resolved, or abandoned.
The document said consent conditions, including dwelling height, building locations, colours, lighting and screen planting would be drafted and circulated to parties in mediation for consideration when mediation resumes on August 11.
