Queenstown-based John Edmonds and Associates has submitted a request to the Queenstown Lakes District Council for plan change 45 Northlake special zone, to rezone 222.26ha of land on the north side of Aubrey Rd towards the Clutha River. Outlet Rd runs through the site.
The plan change area is at present zoned partly rural general and partly rural residential, but would be rezoned under the plan change to a special zone that would enable a range of residential lot sizes and housing choice, from medium to low density and larger residential lots, plus a neighbourhood commercial component.
The request provides for an average housing density of seven dwellings per hectare, with about 1600 residential lots being the maximum development possible for the zone.
The applicant for the plan change is Sydney-based Michaela Ward Meehan, who owns the majority of land subject to the plan change, and is working with three other landowners towards the rezoning.
She is also the developer for the existing Northlake subdivision, which has consent for 64 lots, each more than 4000sq m - most of which have been pre-sold. Those lots could be further subdivided to a maximum of 123 lots if the plan change is approved.
''The zone will be better connected and integrated than the rural residential zoning along Aubrey Rd and the existing low density residential subdivisions around the periphery of Wanaka.''
The Wanaka Structure Plan (2007) had identified the site as suitable for urban development because of its proximity to amenities such as schools and community facilities, employment and retail areas, the application said.
An annual market review released last week by property services company Colliers International included indicative supply figures of the Wanaka residential section market.
The table showed there were already about 1770 other potential sites within Wanaka subdivisions, either zoned for residential development or with sites already available for sale.
Queenstown, in comparison, had an estimated 700 vacant sites already with a further 800 sites expected to be developed over the next five years.
The Colliers review said sales activity in the Wanaka residential section market had shown a resurgence, particularly for higher value sites. Section sales rose from 65 in 2011, with a median sale price of $280,000, to 115 in 2012, with a median sale price of $320,000.
Christchurch-based buyers were entering the Wanaka market ''willing to pay a premium'' for sites with lake views. In the first half of 2013, more than 70 sections had sold, 12 at an average of $232,000, and the balance made up of pre-sales at the Northlake subdivision for sections averaging about $260,000 per site.
The review said current growth projections indicated Wanaka would need about 185 houses to be built per year.
QLDC senior policy analyst Alyson Hutton said further information had been sought from the plan change applicant and it was expected a final report would go to the next strategy committee meeting on June 4, where the plan change would be accepted, adopted or rejected.
