May 17 2010
Cambridge’s character area may be better protected in the future under changes being considered to the Waipa District Plan.
The District Plan is a set of rules and guidelines which help the Council better manage growth and development in the District. The existing District Plan is being reviewed to ensure it meets the changing needs of the District.
Council staff have developed a series of information sheets highlighting a number of proposals being considered. They include reviewing the existing character guidelines for Cambridge so that the town’s heritage is better protected in the future.
Manager – strategy, Gary Knighton said the review raised a number of issues which he hoped would generate community debate, including:
- increasing the minimum area that can be subdivided from an existing farm from 25 hectares to 40 hectares to allow for better use of land,
- putting an end to ad hoc residential developments by more actively managing when and where growth can occur. This will enable Council to better plan for expensive infrastructure like water and roads,
- putting in place rules to ensure town centres remain the retail and office hubs
- tightening the rules around allowing small retirement lots to be subdivided from farms,
- allowing apartment-style housing to be built in some areas,
- increasing the minimum section size to 600 square metres from 400 sqm. This will impact on whether or not some sections can be subdivided.
Mr Knighton said the proposals had been developed following feedback from a range of individuals and groups but that “nothing was set in stone”.
“We are still very much in a consultation stage and we’re actively seeking the views of people in the district,” he said.
Information sheets covering these and other issues are available from Council offices and libraries and from the website www.waipa2050.co.nz. Council staff will be taking feedback until June 15.
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