Developers planning a 118-lot residential development at Mosgiel, with 37 properties smaller than allowed in Dunedin's district plan, are awaiting a final decision on the project's future, following a Dunedin City Council resource consent hearing yesterday.
Allan Dippie, of Otago Business Park Ltd, argued before a hearings committee of Dunedin city councillors Colin Weatherall, Andrew Noone and Fliss Butcher his plan would create an "outstanding community" at the site, off Gladstone Rd North.
Concerns raised by those opposing the plan include a change to the semi-rural environment and the effect the development could have on drainage.
The project is to be developed in three stages, on land zoned residential 6.
Under residential 6 zoning, sites must be no less than 1000sq m, but the proposal asked for 37 of the sites to be smaller than that, and for smaller yards for the sites than the minimum 9m for front yards and 6m for rear and sides.
The plan attracted 33 submissions, 25 opposing the plan, seven neutral and none in support.
Council planner Lianne Darby, in a recent report, recommended the committee decline consent, as she said the number and percentage of the undersized lots was too high to be successfully mitigated.
The proposal was, in effect, a plan change.
Mr Dippie's counsel, Phil Page, said the application was not a "plan change in disguise".
"It is a good faith attempt to make the zone fit the landscape."
There was a slight change to the application with seven lots that would have been smaller than allowed now complying.
Mr Dippie said his project made the best use of limited land in Dunedin.
Woodland Ave resident Bruce McMillan said the development was not a problem in itself, but the resulting traffic and drainage issues were.
There were flooding issues at his property he believed would be made worse by the development.
The area was rural-residential when he moved there 12 years ago, but the development would change that.
Gladstone Rd resident Stan Rodger said the developer had made an "injudicious" decision to buy the land, and was seeking to maximise his return.
He said the site was prone to landslips, and was flood-prone.
Cr Weatherall said the committee would visit the site, and may require more information before it came to a decision.
