Lake Hayes Estate resident Bruce Patton has two words of warning for Wakatipu Basin homeowners with rural views: "No guarantees.''
The Patton and McBride Trusts own land on Cone Peak Close containing two houses over the fence from the planned Bridesdale Farm development.
Mr Patton, a retired real estate agent and auctioneer, voiced his opposition at hearings last year.
There was a concession from the commissioners: the adjoining site to the trust's land has been reshaped and there is a greater building setback.
"At this stage, it's pretty difficult to tell how beneficial that's going to be,'' Mr Patton said.
"We're probably better off but we can't quite tell at this stage to what extent.''
Mr Patton said the commissioners visited his house and he got a fair hearing.
However, he felt the decision was harsh on neighbours, who complained of losing their rural outlook.
Mr Patton did not think that the farm would have been rural land forever but he "certainly didn't expect it to go from rural general to medium density residential in one fell swoop''.
He was not convinced that special housing areas would lead to more affordable housing for Queenstown when there was no pressure on land-bankers to develop their residential-zoned land.
