Preserving the streetscape in Gore's central business district and simplifying the subdivision of land in urban and rural areas are among proposed changes to the Gore District Council's district plan.
Gore district consultant planner Keith Hovell said 14 plan changes were adopted by the council last month and would be notified for public submission by mid-July.
Some of the more significant changes included extending the heritage building list and introducing a "townscape precinct", for Gore's commercial area; introducing a minimum area for subdivision in rural and urban areas; and specifying a maximum height for structures and buildings in industrial areas.
Changes also included reducing the allowable height for buildings and requiring buildings in residential areas to be set back from boundaries and the introduction of controls on earthworks throughout the districtMr Hovell said the townscape precinct came out of the council's streetscape strategy.
"During consultation on the strategy, it became obvious there was a public desire to maintain the main street's character," he said.
The subdivision rule changes will make it easier to approve applications which meet rules relating to size. The minimum areas are 4ha for rural and 400sq m for urban, with the exception of two residential blocks near Gore's green belt. These blocks, bounded by Crombie and Devon Sts, and Preston and Traford Sts, will have an allowable section size of 300sq m.
Mr Hovell said the 300sq m minimum was in response to what had been happening in this area for the past 10 years, with large sections being subdivided for residential development.
He said the controls on earthworks had come about as the result of problems with the timing and scale of works that had occurred in urban and rural areas. It was also aimed at protecting water quality in the Knapdale groundwater zone, which feeds town water bores.
Mr Hovell said there would be meetings with various interest groups, such as farmers, architects and builders, as well as any other groups on request, to ensure people had a clear understanding of the intent and implications of the changes.
All changes will be open to public submission.
Changes relating to the Knapdale groundwater zone and heritage buildings will take effect from the date of notification, Mr Hovell said.
The hearing panel to consider any submissions will be made up of the four councillors certified as hearing commissioners: Crs Cliff Bolger (chairman) Bret Highsted, Nicky Davis and Marty Redhead.
