The first subdivision application has been lodged with Lakes Environmental following the Queenstown Lakes District Council's (QLDC) recently ratified Plan Change 25 for Kingston Special Zone.
Moreteon Investments Ltd has applied for resource consent to subdivide and create 23 lots at Oxford St, Kingston.
The company's directors are Andrew Guest, of Auckland, and Laurison Smith, of Australia.
Plan Change 25 became operative on March 18 and rezoned 88ha of land to make way for an extension of Kingston township.
The company's application says the proposed 6.39ha subdivision was seen as a "gateway" to the plan change site.
"It is the intention of the landowner to develop the application site in accordance with the design guidelines produced for Plan Change 25. The development will provide a gradation between the existing township and the plan change site," it says.
The 23-lot subdivision would be made up of 21 residential lots, one balance lot and one commercial lot. The company was also seeking land use consent for a 60sq m office space and cafe on the commercial lot.
The office would be used as a sales office to promote sections on the site and the plan change site. The cafe would contain 14 seats.
"The proposed subdivision provides a first stage of development which will enable both Kent St and Oxford St to be enlivened," the application says.
The development would bring employment in the construction phase and also long-term employment in the cafe.
"Future development is considered inevitable in Kingston, following the ratification of Plan Change 25. To ensure that the township becomes more self-sufficient additional commercial activity and a more permanent population base are required," it says.
The application says Kingston has no reticulated water supply scheme. The community's water comes from rainwater collection and ground water and surface water takes.
"However, in conjunction with the property's neighbouring Plan Change 25 development, the QLDC is currently examining the provision of a fully reticulated scheme ... subject to local community approval, as well as progression of the plan change development," it says.
If the scheme does not go ahead, the proposed subdivision will obtain water from another source, it says.
Overall, the company considered the subdivision would have minor negative effects on the environment, which would be counteracted by the positive effects associated with preserving open space within the development.
Lakes Environmental has requested more information on water supply, sewage, storm water, roading and layout design.
