Resource Management Issues

Make a world of differencewww.opus.co.nz

Rebekah Ward Principal Environmental Consultant

Presented by:

Kirsty DickEnvironmental Consultant

Bryce PowellResource Management Planner

Sustainable Habitat Challenge 09

June 08

Focus of Presentationto cover some issues you may face

Make a world of differencewww.opus.co.nz

• Site considerations• Development controls• Resource consent process • Green mitigation• Checklist

1. Site Considerations

• Site Features• Vacant lot, • Existing buildings (to remain, be removed or demolished), • Location of existing drainage,• Climatic influences,• Topography/Geotechnical (stability),• Protected trees,• Heritage/Archaeological features,• Watercourses/overland flow paths,• Adjoining landuses.

• Certificate of Title• Covenants,• Easements,• Freehold, Cross lease, Leasehold (implications).

Site Considerations continued

• Zoning• Q. Is residential housing permitted on the site?• If not permitted, resource consent is required. The assessment is

effects based.

• Development Controls• Height in relation to boundary (shading, privacy, dominance, views)• Design controls (colour, materials, mass, style, fencing)• Yard (street character, privacy, buffer)• Density/Intensity (mass, dominance, subdivision patterns)• Site coverage (drainage, landscape, character, amenity)• Landscaping (amenity, drainage)• Outdoor living space (amenity)• Access (formation, location)• Services (Wastewater, Stormwater) • Earthworks (clearance of platform)

• Development Contributions

2. When Resource Consent is required?

• When the use (residential house) is not permitted on the site,

• When development controls are not met,• Depending on the infringement, may need

specialist investigations and• Neighbour approval.

Note: Different rules apply to different areas of New Zealand.

3. Resource Consent Process

• Resource Consent time frames

4. Green Mitigation

• Sustainability considerations in District PlansGreen initiatives need to become more mainstream before they are widely

accepted.• Currently little dispensation from meeting development controls,• Can offset some environmental effects,• Effectiveness needs to demonstrated,• Lack of national guidelines and case law evolving,• Sustainable choices largely left to market forces.

Green Mitigation continued

• Examples• Green roof vs. landscaped ground• Wind Turbine – height infringement, noise,

amenity• Bike facility instead of car parking • Mixture of housing – affordability vs. density• Flexible design• Home occupation• Proximity to public transport• Rain collection tanks and compost toilets

Onus is on the developer to show that these innovations can mitigate effects.

4. Checklist

Contact details

Kirsty DickEnvironmental Consultant(09) 356-1181kirsty.dick@opus.co.nz

Bryce PowellResource Management Planner(09) 353-7339bryce.powell@opus.co.nz

Rebekah WardPrincipal Environmental Consultant(09) 355-9571rebekah.ward@opus.co.nz