Lively meeting argues Motueka rezoning proposals

May 30th, 2013
[by David Armstrong]

More than 40 people attended a lively and sometimes emotional meeting at Memorial Hall last night to learn and argue about council's proposed zoning changes for Motueka West and Central areas.

The meeting, hosted by community board chairman David Ogilvie and presented by council planning managers Rose Biss and Steve Markham, followed an afternoon information session also well attended, indicating a strong degree of interest - and concern in some cases - over the proposals.

The proposed plan changes, first drafted and put out to consultation over two years ago (see our story here), are now in two separate documents for the West and Central parts, and are open for final consultation before a council decision expected in September.

The documents, maps and proposed zone changes can be viewed by clicking on these links:

In short, the proposed changes for Motueka West if adopted will see almost 100ha of land between Pah Street, King Edward Street, Queen Victoria Street and the current urban dwellings rezoned over time, mainly from rural to a mixture of residential, mixed business, light industrial and industrial zones to cope with expected future town growth.

Because there are no services (sewage, water etc) for the area at present and no immediate demand for land, all these zonings will be of a "deferred" nature, meaning they will only be rezoned at some later time.

The proposed changes for Motueka Central involves the rezoning from residential to commercial of areas mainly between Greenwood Street and Tudor Street eastward to Wilkinson Street.

Steve Markham urged people to take a long view on these proposed changes, noting that many of them would not actually come into effect for some time, perhaps many years.

"We need long-term planning of the town's development," he said. "Motueka has clearly suffered for a long time from incremental, unplanned growth, and now we need it to be planned.

"Much of what we're proposing may not happen for a long time, but we need to plan for growth now." Rose also spoke of the need for Motueka to consolidate its urban form widthways rather than continue to grow as a strip town along State Highway 6.

She said constrictions on the east side, in the form of the low lying land, and to a lesser extent to the west with the aerodrome, meant that the area proposed in West Motueka is the best option. She also spoke of making better road and foot traffic connections on the west side.

Aiming to pre-empt concerns about changes in residential rates as a result of rezoning, Steve talked about two policies to be decided on by council as part of its upcoming annual plan, to be confirmed (or otherwise) next month, aimed at addressing this problem.

The Rates Postponement and Rates Remission policies, if adopted, would essentially enable residents to apply to have their rates maintained at their current values until such time as they sell their property. This brought considerable scepticism and jeering from many in the audience.

Much of the meeting comprised questions and impassioned pleas from those attending. It should be noted that the figure of over 60 people in two sessions was far more than normally attend council information evenings, and being huddled together on such a cold evening also highlighted the need for more modern and better heated meeting facilities in Motueka.

Topics which were argued - often repeatedly - through question time included:

Several people were concerned about a suggested road connection between Courtney Street and Green Lane, saying it would be dangerous for Motueka South School pupils and worsen activity on Courtney Street. Rose believed it would help the school by removing High Street as the main access point.
Some questioned the rezoning of the west side of Wilkinson Street to commercial. They feared the street was too narrow, that it would harm values of properties on the east side of the street, and it could see large retail premises being built there.
One couple argued repeatedly that there was no proven case that more commercial land was needed in Motueka, with some existing shops currently unoccupied. Rose said that we have to plan for a longer term future than what is the current situation.
Of strongest concern, raised by many through the evening sometimes angrily, was the proposal - already argued against by the concerned residents during the earlier round of consultation - to rezone parts of the West Motueka land industrial and light industrial, particularly as it would seriously affect existing residents at the western end of King Edward Street.

One resident, Shirley Frater, led the charge with a passionate and emotional appeal to listen to the residents and understand what the change would likely cause for the value of their properties and the likelihood of having noisy and busy industries near their back doorsteps.

Rose said she was listening, and that council had debated Shirley's previous submission but voted (in a close vote, Councillor Barry Dowler said from the audience) to retain that part of the plan. Council would rather see industrial areas close enough to town for workers to get there easily and for easy access to the major roads and the aerodrome.
Associated comments from others asked that council look for ways of developing an "industrial park" for these industries further out of town, perhaps to the west of the aerodrome or even several kilometres out of town, rather than have them near present and future residential areas. This comment was one of several which received strong applause from many in the audience.
One speaker even said the council should simply relocate the aerodrome elsewhere and use that land for industry. Another said council should open land to the west of the airport for low-cost housing.

Several times through the discussion Rose, Steve and David Ogilvie urged people with strong views to make written submissions to council, and not just rely on saying their piece in the meeting and then doing nothing more. The submission process was the only way in which council would consider requested changes.

Submissions on the proposed plan changes close on June 24th. They can be made through the usual council channels including their website.

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