New Rules For Napier Hill Character Zone

Unless there is an appeal against its decision, the Napier City Council will be applying more robust restrictions to building, subdividing sites and constructing multi-unit developments within the Napier Hill Character Zone.

District Plan Change 5, which is subject to appeal up until 20 April 2012, is aimed at better safeguarding the zone’s residential amenity from inappropriate development.

Widespread concern about the size and form of recent proposals which concerned residents viewed as seeking to take advantage of relatively liberal development standards triggered a Council review of District Plan rules for the zone.

The review concluded that current rules permitted development which could generate adverse effects on the environment and that, over time, this would erode the zone’s existing character and amenity.

The proposed Plan Change 5 attracted more than 100 submissions. Most supported the change as outlined or suggested further restrictions. The major change made by the Council after considering the submissions was to retain the 50 percent permitted site coverage, rather than reducing that to 40 percent as originally proposed.

Submitters have been notified of the Council’s decision and its reasons for adopting Plan Change 5. Providing there are no appeals within the 30 working day-appeal period, the rules will become operative. Should there be any appeal, then the rules subject to that appeal will remain in the District Plan but will not be fully operative until the appeal is resolved.

With Plan Change 5 adopted and included in the District Plan, the Council expects all future development on Napier Hill will complement the existing built environment and ensure high levels of amenity for the zone.