The South Island businessman presented his opposing submission on a proposal to allow higher-density development and taller buildings during a three-day hearing, which began in Wanaka yesterday.
Part of the Urban Intensification Variation proposal being investigated by the Queenstown Lakes District Council involves lifting the existing Wānaka town centre building heights from 12m to 16.5m and the adjoining medium density zone from 7m to 12m.
Before the hearing, Sir Ian had employed a surveyor to place poles at the top of his holiday home in Lismore St, which extended 12m, showing the height buildings in a residential area could reach under the new proposal.
He said he could not believe how high the poles were, further indicating to him the proposal could result in obstruction.
"It blocks out mountain views and it changes what Wānaka is.
"Because if I can do that on my house, every household on the top of that rise will be able to do it as well," he said.
He made it clear in his presentation to the panel yesterday that intensification was necessary to provide more housing and keep up with the region’s growth.
However, he insisted that allowing existing homeowners to build up was not going to provide the region with solutions.
The proposal was about "trying to get more houses for people who don’t have them ... this won’t create a single other bed", he said.
"It will just give me more spectacular views and make my place more valuable. And worse still, it blocks out mountain views."
Another opposing submission at yesterday’s hearing was from a group of residents that includes Marie, Lady Skeggs, most of whom own multimillion-dollar properties in Lismore St.
The group’s lawyer, Jayne Macdonald, said their opposition to the proposal was mainly directed at the obstruction the height increases would cause.
"Our case is straightforward," she said.
The group was "not opposed to intensification where it makes sense".
The submission said the proposal to increase building height, especially in high-density residential zones, would not help create more housing.
It would instead "incentivise visitor accommodation, with substantial adverse effects on existing amenity", which included obstruction to the mountain view from Lismore St.
Among more than 350 submissions, the proposal received some support from locals, including Mark Hervey, who said he supported the intensification of Wānaka town centre as it could create a more "inclusive lifestyle".
