The intention of the proposed change is to allow a greater range of activities in this part of Petone. To achieve this goal, some changes to District Plan development rules will be necessary.
The plan change area is bordered by The Esplanade, Hutt Road, Petone Avenue, Campbell Terrace, Victoria Street and Sydney Street and also includes three properties on the eastern side of Victoria Street immediately south of Campbell Terrace (please see the Plan Change document for maps).
Proposed District Plan Change 29 proposes to expand the existing zone called ‘Petone Commercial Activity Area – Area 2’ by rezoning an area currently zoned ‘General Business Activity Area’ (which includes The Esplanade West Area). Three properties on the eastern side of Victoria Street immediately south of Campbell Terrace currently zoned ‘General Business Activity Area’ are proposed to be rezoned ‘Petone Commercial Activity Area – Area 1’.
A single set of proposed planning rules would apply to the enlarged ‘Petone Commercial Activity Area – Area 2’. This set of rules differs from the existing rules for the ‘Petone Commercial Activity Area – Area 2’ rules. The existing ‘Petone Commercial Activity Area – Area 1’ rules are not proposed to be changed, but would apply to the three properties proposed to be rezoned in Victoria Street under the proposed plan change (which are currently ‘General Business Activity Area’).
Proposed Plan Change 29 has the following elements:
- Rezoning the western part of Petone from a mixture of ‘Petone Commercial Area Activity Area - Area 2’, and ‘General Business Activity Area’ (including The Esplanade West Area) to ‘Petone Commercial Activity Area - Area 2’.
- Maximum permitted Building Height of 30m throughout the area, with any building over 12m requiring a wind assessment (and non-notified resource consent).
In addition to this rule, along the area's three main roads - Jackson Street, Hutt Road and The Esplanade - on the road frontage the maximum permitted building height will be 15m and a 45-degree recession plane sloping inwards from this 15m height up to the maximum permitted height of 30m. Wind assessment will also be required over 12m. (Currently maximum building heights vary across the area from 12m in the General Business Activity Area, to 30m in The Esplanade West area and the existing Petone Commercial Activity Area – Area 2, with special provisions along Jackson Street.)
- New and more specific Design Guidelines for buildings along the three main roads of Jackson Street, Hutt Road and The Esplanade. (At present guidelines apply only to The Esplanade and Hutt Road.)
- Retail developments permitted up to a maximum of 10,000m2 of floor space, subject to compliance with the permitted activity conditions. (Currently, permitted retail development is limited to between 500m2 and 3000m2 and only in areas around Jackson Street, Te Puni Street and Gear Street.)
- Residential development permitted, subject to compliance with the permitted activity conditions. (At present a resource consent is necessary.)
- Commercial development permitted everywhere, subject to compliance with the permitted activity conditions, along with some light industrial uses (currently allowed only in certain parts).
- Retaining the present permitted maximum Site Coverage of 100%. Extra rules relating to side and rear yard setbacks and recession planes would have the effect of lowering maximum coverage on sites abutting the General Residential Activity Area.
- Retaining current requirements to cope with the extra risk of building within the Wellington Fault Area. Building heights and density provisions within the fault area would be the same as elsewhere in the area.
- Consequential changes are also proposed to the General Business Activity Area as a result of rezoning part of the current activity area.
- In addition, three Properties in Victoria Street currently zoned ‘General Business Activity Area’ will be rezoned 2‘Petone Commercial Activity Area – Area 1’.
At last month’s meeting, the Council voted to engage an earthquake specialist to pinpoint the exact location of the fault inside the defined Wellington Fault Area. At present, property owners wishing to build within the fault area must locate, at their own cost, exactly where the fault passes through or near their land.
District Plan chapters and maps affected by this plan change – Chapters 1, 3, 5, 5B, 6A, 14A Planning map A5.
To make a submission or any enquiry about this plan change, get in touch with us.