Property owners and developers will have greater certainty about what types of land use are allowed in Rodney now that a large part of the new District Plan is operative.
Rodney District Council notified its Proposed District Plan in 2000 with the intention that it would eventually replace the 1993 District Plan. However, the high rate of development in Rodney has meant that a large number of appeals were received to the Proposed District Plan, which contains 23 chapters. Many of these appeals have since been resolved, meaning some chapters of the Plan can now be made operative.
From 30 January 2009, 14 of 23 chapters of the new District Plan have become operative. The operative sections include chapters on residential matters, natural hazards, open space, cultural heritage, subdivision and servicing, as well as a number of other subjects.
As these parts of the District Plan are no longer subject to appeal, residents and developers have greater certainty about the types of activities permitted on their land and on neighbouring properties.
Assessing resource consents and carrying out planning work will also be less complex for RDC planning staff with significant parts of the new Plan being operative.
Staff have previously had to make assessments against both the Operative 1993 District Plan and the Proposed 2000 District Plan. In many cases only one plan will need to be referred to now.
At a meeting last December at which the Council resolved to make part of the Plan operative, Deputy Mayor John Kirikiri thanked planning staff for their assistance in progressing the Plan.
The Council will continue to work on resolving remaining appeals to enable the rest of Proposed Plan to be made operative as soon as possible.