Hauraki moves to aid affordable housing

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Hauraki District Council recently notified a change to its District Plan to support the need for a supply of affordable housing in New Zealand.

Proposed changes come in two forms – reduced sizes for residential sites in several of towns and allowance for minor dwellings on many urban and rural titles.

Reducing the minimum residential section size from 525m2 in Paeroa, Waihi and Paeroa to 450m2 will put them closer to, but still much larger than the 350m2 allowed in adjoining Western Bay of Plenty District or central areas of Matamata-Piako District towns.

The earlier minimum size, set a few years back, was a deliberate attempt by councillors of the time to stop subdivision of the old ‘quarter acre’ block, common in Waihi.

In my mind this rule needs lining up with the rule that allows a density of one dwelling per 350m2 of section size in these towns.

We submitted strongly at the time the earlier rule was put in place to no avail and will continue the debate this time around.

Minimum section size is proposed to remain unchanged at 525m2 in Ngatea and Kerepehi.

The proposed rule for minor dwellings will allow an additional small dwelling of 50m2 or 60m2 to be established on, wastewater serviced, residential sites exceeding 650m2; or unserviced sites exceeding 2500m2.

In rural zones minor dwellings will be allowed on sites exceeding 2500m2. Proposed restrictions will control perceived effects on both the environment and neighbours.

For example, both houses will have to be served by one access onto the road and in the rural zone the minor dwelling needs to be located within 10m of the main dwelling.

I’d love to see the requirement for location increased significantly, because nobody needs a neighbouring household in that proximity in the countryside. The prescribed dwelling size is also unnecessarily small in my opinion, with 50m2 being little more than a motel unit.

If you’re planning your future and wish to clarify any subdivision or land use issues, give me a call. I’m happy to discuss the situation to see if it is worth pursuing.

Brent Trail, managing director of Surveying Services, specialises in resource consent applications for subdivisions and land use across the Waikato, BOP and Coromandel.  Call 0800 268 632 or email: btrail@surveyingservices.co.nz

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