Proposed District Plan stage two recommendations to be presented to Council

This Thursday, Queenstown Lakes District Councillors will be asked to adopt recommended decisions on all six chapters that make up stage two of the Proposed District Plan. 

Stage two was publicly notified in November 2017 and attracted over 650 submissions and 100 further submissions on Visitor Accommodation, Transport, Earthworks, Signage, Wakatipu Basin Land Use, and Open Space and Recreation.

Following the submission period, independent commissioners were appointed to review the submissions and consider them at public hearings between July and November 2018. 

QLDC Planning Policy Manager Ian Bayliss confirmed that in reaching their recommendations the hearings panel had considered all submissions, alongside advice from relevant experts and lawyers.

“It’s an extremely detailed and thorough process in which the panel has also undertaken site visits, considered legal scope, case law and good planning and resource management practise,” he said.

While most of the recommended decisions are largely consistent with Council evidence, there are extensive recommended changes to the notified rules for visitor accommodation.

“Council officers originally proposed some far reaching changes to the existing visitor accommodation rules aimed at maintaining housing supply in residential zones, character and amenity and addressing the growth of short term letting activity happening in many areas across the district,” said Mr Bayliss.

“The panel did not feel there was enough evidence that short term letting activities was affecting affordability or the supply of residential housing to justify the changes being proposed.  As such, the panel has made an alternative recommendation for residential visitor accommodation rules to provide a more consistent approach and a stronger emphasis on monitoring and enforcement,” he said.

Long awaited recommendations about the rural areas of the Wakatipu Basin and the Crown Terrace are also being presented.

“Many of the requests from submitters seeking rezoning have been rejected by the panel and large parts of the area identified in the notified provisions as a Lifestyle Precinct have been down-zoned to a Rural Amenity Zone which all but prevents further subdivision,” Mr Bayliss said. 

Mr Bayliss added that at this stage these are recommendations not decisions. They become decisions if Councillors adopt the recommendations on Thursday.

“All submitters have been notified of the recommendations and if adopted, we will formally notify the decisions and move into the appeals period,” he said. 

ENDS.

To view the report being presented to Council on 7 March, please visit:  https://www.qldc.govt.nz/council-online/council-documents/agendas-and-minutes/full-council-agendas/2019-full-council-agenda/7-march-2019

To view submissions, further submissions and recommended decisions, please visit: https://www.qldc.govt.nz/planning/district-plan/proposed-district-plan-stage-2