More land between Oamaru and Weston has been zoned for housing in a new low-density residential zone created by the Waitaki District Council.
The land, with access on to Saleyards Rd just south of Oamaru about 2km from the town centre, has a total area of about 9.4ha and includes a 15-lot residential subdivision known as Blue Stone Heights.
The zone affects how almost 5.8ha of land owned by Holmes Management Ltd remaining after the Blue Stone subdivision can be subdivided and still comply with the district plan.
Most of that land is farm land.
The council has approved a change to its district plan to create a new residential 1 zone after a request by Holmes Management Ltd for a private plan change.
The land was previously zoned rural residential, which allowed only sections no smaller than 1ha as of right.
Under the plan change, sections can be a minimum 600sq m with a minimum average lot size within each subdivision of 1000sq m.
That allows for lower density housing than the normal residential zone, which allows section sizes down to 300sq m and does not set a minimum average lot size.
The new residential 1 zoning which, at this stage, only applies to the land off Saleyards Rd, provides a better transition from the higher density residential zone to the rural residential zone.
The council decided to accept the request for a private plan change in November last year, advertised it and received 11 submissions.
Its hearings panel conducted a hearing on July 14 before reaching its decision to approve the plan change, which has been accepted by the council.
In its decision, the panel said the overall environmental effects of the plan change would be no more than minor, subject to changes and amendments.
As a result of previous developments in the area, the distinction between existing urban and rural areas near the site was unclear.
The plan change would consolidate the existing low-density residential development into a defined new zone and provide a clear distinction between urban and and the rural area to the north of the site to ensure amenity values were retained.
While the site has been rezoned under the plan change, a subdivision application will still be needed before any new sections are developed.
