District plan changes expected soon

Decisions on the Central Otago district plan changes, including the one restricting the use of Oamaru stone as a building material for rural homes, should be made public in early May.

The 23 changes, aimed mostly at addressing rural development issues, were advertised in 2008 and the council's hearing panel spent six weeks hearing submissions last year.

Planning committee chairman John Lane told councillors this week that the outcome of those hearings would be announced in early May.

"We're awaiting the completion of new planning maps and then we can publicly notify our decisions."

The changes covered where rural homes could be built, what colours were suitable and what materials were preferred.

Under one of the changes, Oamaru stone was specifically excluded as a suitable building material for rural homes because it was deemed to be too "reflective" and noticeable in a rural setting.

That change prompted an outcry from residents, architects and the building industry, 60 submitters requesting it be reinstated as an appropriate building material.

The 23 proposed changes attracted 289 submissions.

Classifying landscapes was also part of the district plan changes.

Some landscapes were identified as "extremely or highly sensitive" to the effects of rural development, and others were defined as having "significant" sensitivity.

The changes also affected the location of new buildings.

Under the proposed changes, rural buildings and structures should not protrude on the skyline or above a ridge line when viewed from any public place.

Building on valley floors rather than hillsides was encouraged.

Favoured areas for rural subdivisions were highlighted and suitable colours for rural homes' exterior walls, accents and trims were also covered in the proposed changes. lynda.van.kempen@odt.co.nz

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