The company that owns the former Carisbrook Stadium site in South Dunedin is calling on the Dunedin City Council to scrap a 10.5m setback suggested for its Burns St frontage.
Calder Stewart says the setback will cover 1963sq m of land worth about $600,000, and will not provide the benefits suggested in the second generation district plan (2GP).
The company took its concerns to the 2GP hearings last week, as a hearings committee considered what the next district plan will look like.
Calder Stewart bought the land from the Dunedin City Council in 2013, and while it has been unwilling to discuss what it will do with the site, in June it told the Otago Daily Times it was working with a client on a significant project.
The company told the hearings committee it was likely the site would be redeveloped in stages, and the company wanted to ensure it could be developed "in an efficient and logical manner".
The site is zoned industrial under both the district plan, and the proposed 2GP.
Landscape architect Hugh Forsyth said in his evidence the site was the last remaining large clear area of industrial land in the harbour area of Dunedin.
Mr Forsyth recommended the 10.5m setback provision be set aside, and replaced with a 3m setback.
Research undertaken by the University of Otago had shown South Dunedin had a low population of native birds because of a lack of habitat, and planting of native or exotic trees there would provide a valuable habitat resource.
"I consider this planting would also assist in decreasing the dominance of potential buildings as sought by the 2GP and bring an increase in visual and perceptual amenity to this section of Burns St."
Mr Forsyth gave native street planting in front of the Museum Annex at 419 Great King St as an example of what could be done.
Calder Stewart Development Ltd senior project manager Mark Weaver said in his evidence the company had been considering options for the redevelopment of the Carisbrook site over the past 12 months.
"It is likely that the Carisbrook site will be redeveloped in stages, and the company wants to ensure that it is able to be developed in an efficient and logical manner in support of the intent of its proposed underlying industrial zoning."
Mr Weaver said initial analysis undertaken by the company showed the 10.5m setback would mean 1963sq m would be lost along the Burns St frontage.
That had "significant implications", as that area was worth $600,000.
Mr Weaver said 10.5m was not a sufficient width for developing a parking area.
