Central government has required Auckland Council to enable more building height and density across our city. In response, Council published its preliminary approach and publicly consulted on that in April and May this year, 2022.
Character Coalition provided detailed feedback to Council, as did a number of our member groups. All feedback from the consultation was then considered by Council.
Throughout this period, Character Coalition has continued to engage with Council officers to apply Council's assessment methodology coherently and consistently. We advocated for more character and heritage areas in the Unitary Plan to be brought forward into the Plan Change as qualifying matters so that their protection from insensitive and inappropriate development would continue.
Council's proposed changes to the Unitary Plan were publicly notified on Thursday 18 August 2022.
Accordingly, Auckland Council is now asking for submissions on its proposed plan changes that respond to the National Policy Statement on Urban Development and recent RMA amendments, known as Plan Changes 78 to 83.
The submission period is open from 18 August until 29 September 2022.
The main intensification plan change is Plan Change 78. The changes, including the maps showing where Council proposes to retain character and heritage areas, are all on the Council website which you can access here, https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/unitary-plan/auckland-unitary-plan-modifications/Pages/details.aspx?UnitaryPlanId=140
Included in the documents supporting the Plan Change proposal, Council has published an information sheet on character and heritage provisions in the Plan Change - for your reference it is also provided here, https://mcusercontent.com/75bce9db271947a0a9e9799ee/files/8a275fcc-a3bc-c048-0492-f5ce62919640/PC_78_Information_Sheet_9_Special_Character_Areas.pdf
It is important that as many people and groups as possible make submissions supporting the inclusion of special character areas as a qualifying matter, and identify areas that have been excluded but should be included.
By making a submission you can give your views and suggestions on these proposed changes to our city's planning rules to be considered by a Hearings Panel early next year.
You can read more information about Council’s proposed changes to the Auckland Unitary Plan and make a submission online through the Auckland Council website - linked here again, https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/plans-projects-policies-reports-bylaws/our-plans-strategies/unitary-plan/auckland-unitary-plan-modifications/Pages/details.aspx?UnitaryPlanId=140
Remember, all submissions on this proposed Plan Change must be sent to Council by 29 September 2022.