Auckland planning chair says proposed changes will remove density around local centres

The chair of Auckland Council's planning committee Richard Hills says proposed changes to new intensification rules will remove density around local centres and focus it near frequent transport services.On Tuesday, councillors will decide whether to make changes to the proposed Plan Change 120 (PC120) before it goes out to public consultation for a second time.Auckland Council is required by central government to enable development capacity for 1.4 million new dwellings in the city.In June, councillors agreed to send two versions of PC120 to local boards and iwi authorities for feedback - Plan A and Plan B, which provided for 1.4-1.6 million dwellings and 1.5-1.7 million dwellings respectively.The feedback from local boards was largely that "about a third wanted A, about a third wanted B, and about a third wanted a mix of both or didn't say", Hills said.The big change most local boards wanted was to remove density around local centres, "those are smaller centres in their communities, not the town centres, not the metro centres"."There were other local boards who asked for things that can't be changed, so a change to a walkable catchment or a change to a town centre that's required under the law to stay."The chair of Auckland Council's planning committee Richard Hills.Alexia RussellThe proposed changes to go before councillors on Tuesday were a blend of Plan A and Plan B, and focus housing density where infrastructure was already in place, he said."...we're largely landing in the place where we're doing all the legal requirements, but adding density, so that's six-storey developments around frequent transport corridors - the really, really busy bus routes, mostly heading into the city."Building heights would also lift to 10- to 15- stories around most train stations on all lines within 10km of the city centre, not just specific Western line stations specified in law, Hills said.The exception is Meadowbank train station, where it's proposed to reduce building heights to a maximum of six stories due to its valley location and poor access.Other proposed amendments include reducing building height limits on the southern end of Takapuna Metropolitan Centre from 15 to six stories, and extending the walkable catchments around Akoranga and Smales Farm bus stations so they join up.It is also proposed to further reducing the development potential for properties at risk of natural hazards, based on updated data, Hills said.A law change in April, has enabled the council make changes to the overall plan, or withdraw parts of it.Hills said removing local centres from the proposed intensification plan would leave just 15 percent of urban Auckland impacted by the plan change.The plan to intensify in areas with existing infrastructure was in contrast to what's been happening with fast track consenting where 1000- to 2000-home developments have been given the go-ahead in areas with no infrastructure, he said."I think for most Aucklanders I hear, we should only be putting housing where there is good transport, water, community infrastructure like libraries and that's what the plan shows."It remains to be seen what councillors and iwi representatives will make of the proposed changes tomorrow," Hills said.North Shore councillor John Gillon has proposed a separate amendment, largely based on Plan A.While, Waitematā and Gulf Islands councillor Mike Lee has proposed councillors vote to pause any decisions on Plan Change 120 until work starts on a revisit of the region's planning rules.