Christchurch Replacement Plan Update No. 2
Christchurch Replacement Plan Update No. 2 (27/2/15)
Stage 2 Timeframes and Scope; Panel Decision on Priority Matters
Notification of Stage 2 of the Christchurch Replacement District Plan (RDP) has been brought forward to 2 May 2015, with the submission period from 2 May 2015 – 15 June 2015 and further submission period from 29 June – 13 July 2015.
Stage 2 will cover the balance of the RDP matters not covered by Stage 1, namely:
The following Stage 2 matters will be notified at a later date, yet to be confirmed:
How Stage 2 Proposals May Affect Your Property Interests
Most of the Draft Stage 2 chapters and planning maps are on the Council’s website. This means we can provide preliminary assessments of proposed changes as they affect your property interests, including potential rezonings. Given the tight timeframe after notification for submissions, the earlier you contact us regarding this the better!!
Decision on Priority Matters
The Panel released its decision on priority matters on 26 February 2015, covering:-
Strategic Directions Decision – Key Points
The Panel’s decision is critical of the notified version of the RDP. It finds that the Council’s misinterpretation of ‘higher order’ documents, notably the Land Use Recovery Plan and Canterbury Regional Policy Statement resulted in a poor evaluation of the appropriateness of the proposed objectives and provisions (the ‘so called’ Resource Management Act (RMA) Section 32 evaluation). As a result the notified RDP ”was wordy and vague and in many respects, ineffective in addressed the identified resource management issues”.
The Panel’s decision is essentially a significant ‘re-write’ of the Strategic Directions Chapter. Key features include:-
1) Primacy to Strategic Directions – all other parts of the RDP must be consistent with the Strategic Directions Chapter which provides the overarching direction for the RDP. All other chapters will only include policies, which must are to be expressed and achieved in a manner consistent with the Strategic Directions objectives.
2) Two key objectives take primacy over all others, namely:-
The emphasis on administration efficiency and clarity reflects the Statement of Expectations in the Order in Council specifying the RDP process. It is a positive strong direction for the need to minimise delays and costs arising from complex consenting processes. It will provide important context for consideration of specific rules in subsequent chapters, such as the proposed complex set of rules proposed for new greenfield residential areas (the proposed New Neighbourhood Zone).
3) Other Objectives – these cover:
The Panel’s decision can be found in full here:- http://www.chchplan.ihp.govt.nz/Hearings/Hearing1/Pages/default.aspx
Other Priority Matters
Hearings will take place between March – June 2015 in relation to the other priority matters, but with no date specified as yet for decisions. Hearings will principally cover:
How We Can Help
Please feel free to contact us if you would like any more information or to discuss any matters relating to the Replacement Plan. As noted above – we are now able to provide preliminary advice in relation to Stage 2 matters as a Draft version is now on the Council’s web site.
Stage 2 Timeframes and Scope; Panel Decision on Priority Matters
Notification of Stage 2 of the Christchurch Replacement District Plan (RDP) has been brought forward to 2 May 2015, with the submission period from 2 May 2015 – 15 June 2015 and further submission period from 29 June – 13 July 2015.
Stage 2 will cover the balance of the RDP matters not covered by Stage 1, namely:
- Balance of residential matters (including remaining residential zones and land to be rezoned residential including some Regional Policy Statement Priority Greenfield areas)
- Balance of commercial matters (including rwtjhe56jwe6jn 5h45gemaining commercial zones and land to be rezoned commercial)
- Balance of industrial matters (including remaining industrial zones and land to be rezoned industrial)
- Balance of subdivision, development and earthworks matters
- Future Urban Development Areas (applying to some of the RPS Priority Greenfield areas)
- Rural zones
- Open space and recreation zones
- Coastal zone
- Special Purpose Zones (including for Golf Resorts, education facilities and hospitals)
- Transport
- Papakainga
- Hazardous substances and contaminated land
- Utilities, energy and infrastructure
The following Stage 2 matters will be notified at a later date, yet to be confirmed:
- Natural and Cultural Heritage
- Central City
- Stage2 Natural Hazards Chapters (which we presume will include coastal hazards)
- Specific Purpose Zone Flat Land Recovery
How Stage 2 Proposals May Affect Your Property Interests
Most of the Draft Stage 2 chapters and planning maps are on the Council’s website. This means we can provide preliminary assessments of proposed changes as they affect your property interests, including potential rezonings. Given the tight timeframe after notification for submissions, the earlier you contact us regarding this the better!!
Decision on Priority Matters
The Panel released its decision on priority matters on 26 February 2015, covering:-
- Strategic Directions
- Temporary activities relating to earthquake recovery such as house lifting
- Rebuild and Repair of Multi-Unit Dwellings
- Exemplar Housing
Strategic Directions Decision – Key Points
The Panel’s decision is critical of the notified version of the RDP. It finds that the Council’s misinterpretation of ‘higher order’ documents, notably the Land Use Recovery Plan and Canterbury Regional Policy Statement resulted in a poor evaluation of the appropriateness of the proposed objectives and provisions (the ‘so called’ Resource Management Act (RMA) Section 32 evaluation). As a result the notified RDP ”was wordy and vague and in many respects, ineffective in addressed the identified resource management issues”.
The Panel’s decision is essentially a significant ‘re-write’ of the Strategic Directions Chapter. Key features include:-
1) Primacy to Strategic Directions – all other parts of the RDP must be consistent with the Strategic Directions Chapter which provides the overarching direction for the RDP. All other chapters will only include policies, which must are to be expressed and achieved in a manner consistent with the Strategic Directions objectives.
2) Two key objectives take primacy over all others, namely:-
- Enabling recovery and facilitating future enhancement of the District:
- Achieving clarity of language and efficiency, including minimising transaction costs and reliance on resource consent processes; the number, extent and prescriptiveness of development controls and design standards; and requirements for notification of consents and written approvals.
The emphasis on administration efficiency and clarity reflects the Statement of Expectations in the Order in Council specifying the RDP process. It is a positive strong direction for the need to minimise delays and costs arising from complex consenting processes. It will provide important context for consideration of specific rules in subsequent chapters, such as the proposed complex set of rules proposed for new greenfield residential areas (the proposed New Neighbourhood Zone).
3) Other Objectives – these cover:
- Ngai Tahu Manawhenua
- Housing capacity and choice – this includes a specific reference to enabling an additional 27 400 dwellings through a combination of residential intensification, brownfield and urban development.
- Business and economic prosperity –its critical importance to Christchurch’s recovery and well being is recognised
- Natural hazards – new subdivision and development is to be avoided where risks of natural hazards are considered to be unacceptable, and otherwise appropriately mitigated (however, what is classed as acceptable is not discussed or defined)
- Urban growth, form and design – this objective largely reflects the direction on these matters provided in the Canterbury Regional Policy, including achieving a consolidated urban form
- Revitalising the Central City – the Central City is to be revitalised as the primary community focal point, referred to in the decision as ‘the jewel in the Crown’. Subsequent chapters are expected to include more specifics as to how this is to be achieved.
- Natural and cultural environment – the objective seeks a high quality network of public open space and recreation opportunities; recognition of outstanding natural features and landscapes and the natural character of the coastal environment, lakes and rivers. In addition specific recognition is given to springs/puna, lagoons/hapua and their margins; mana whenua cultural and spiritual values; and indigenous ecosystems and the mauri and lifesupporting capacity of ecosystems and resources. These provisions (and the specific objective regarding Ngai Tahu Manawhenua) reflect the extensive submissions and evidence provided by Ngai Tahu Manawhenua which the Panel notes was essentially uncontested.
- Commercial and industrial activities + community and education activities – recovery and longterm economic and employment growth are to be expedited in relation to business and community and education activities
- Infrastructure, emergency services and public safety, temporary recovery activities.
The Panel’s decision can be found in full here:- http://www.chchplan.ihp.govt.nz/Hearings/Hearing1/Pages/default.aspx
Other Priority Matters
Hearings will take place between March – June 2015 in relation to the other priority matters, but with no date specified as yet for decisions. Hearings will principally cover:
- Natural hazards
- Residential
- Commercial and Industrial
- Subdivision
- Transport
How We Can Help
Please feel free to contact us if you would like any more information or to discuss any matters relating to the Replacement Plan. As noted above – we are now able to provide preliminary advice in relation to Stage 2 matters as a Draft version is now on the Council’s web site.