IMPORTANT PLAN CHANGE

Last Thursday I attended a Council meeting where Council decided to notify a plan change in the Rural Zone which was effective as of Saturday June 27.  The changes will be applied to all applications submitted from June 29 2009 onwards.  The changes are summarised below and on Council’s website http://www.hastingsdc.govt.nz/planchanges/49  If you need clarification on any issues please do not hesitate to call us.   

Plan Change 49 – Subdivision in the Rural Zone 

In summary, Plan Change 49 proposes to:

• Increase the term of lifestyle site creation to once every 5 years instead of every 3 years;
• Amend the wording of the standard regarding lifestyle subdivision to ensure timeframes apply 5 years after the date of any subject title has been issued;
• Change the activity status for lifestyle (‘note 2’ subdivisions only) and rural lot (20ha plus) subdivision from ‘Controlled’ to ‘Restricted Discretionary’, while excluding the consideration of affected persons consents and public notification. In conjunction with this, assessment criteria are proposed to ensure multiple lifestyle sites are not created where inappropriate, and consideration is made of the shape and arrangement of sites for potential farming use. Criteria regarding archaeological, historic, cultural and waahi tapu sites are also proposed;
• Retain ‘Controlled’ activity status for lifestyle subdivision when associated with an existing dwelling (and no other associated lifestyle sites have been created in the previous 5 years);
• Reduce the minimum lifestyle site size from 1.5ha to 4,000m²;
• Amend the definition of ‘Net site area’ to add exemptions so that Rights of Way and access strips do not prevent a site area from being considered as one site or being ‘contiguous’ in the Rural Zone. Also clarify that the minimum balance area column in table 15.1.8.3 is subject to the net site area definition;
• Amend Table 15.1.8.3 (note 3) to specify that only one title over 20ha in size may be included as part of any amalgamation subdivision to ensure the associated lifestyle loophole is avoided;
• Clarify the intent of the Maraekakaho lifestyle provision, and;
• Amend the relevant District  Plan Policies LDP7 and RUP14 to reflect the above changes and the objectives of the Plan.