Tauranga City Council is proposing to develop or sell some of the land at Smiths Farm in Bethlehem, on farmland between Cambridge Road and Takitimu Drive.
The land, owned by the Council is currently zoned Rural Residential. It was previously earmarked for new sportsfields development but is now surplus to sportsfields requirements.
The Council is about to consider an option that would help accommodate the city's growth, by fast-tracking urban development in the area. This would be achieved by establishing some of the rural residential land as a special housing area, allowing for suburban residential development.
The Council will decide whether to formally proceed with public consultation for the secial housing area and sale of the land at a meeting on October 22. No decision would be made about the special housing area or sale of the land until a subsequent meeting in December after public feedback has been received.
Special Housing developments do not need to be used for low cost housing, affordable housing or social housing. Should Smiths Farm become a special housing area, the Council would consider a new residential development consisting of 180-240 suburban sections, depending on final site constraints and section sizes, as well as a new neighbourhood reserve of approximately 3,000m2.
The area would also provide for retirement village development opportunities.
The new development would be accessed from a direct road connection to Cambridge Road or an extension and upgrade to Westridge Drive.
If the Council decides to progress to the community engagement phase, feedback will be sought from the community through October and into November. The closing date for feedback will be agreed at the upcoming Council meeting. As part of the engagement process, the Council would hold a drop-in session at a location in the Bethlehem community to provide further information and answer questions.
4 comments
Somewhat selective TCC
Posted on 15-10-2015 19:45 | By Murray.Guy
So Bob Clarkson is told, effectively, to take his dreams of 'more affordable housing' at Tauriko and bugger off, BUT it's okay for Tauranga City Council to rezone land for high intensity housing when adjacent neighbours thought they were buying into a rural residential area! There were plans for a Maori Cultural initiative on the land. What happened to that, apart from stupidly NOT providing access of the toll road? Look out Westridge residents.
council land developers??
Posted on 16-10-2015 07:42 | By kb
Driving into town the other day ,there was a one guy picking up rubbish on the side of the road ,in tow was one ute and two road safety trucks ,the one guy picking rubbish up $40 hour the other three vehicles $200 hour ??? should the council get involved in land development? definite NO!! Do the job properly that we voted you in there to do.
Sell and repay debt
Posted on 16-10-2015 16:53 | By Annalist
Sell the surplus land and repay debt. It is currently zoned rural residential so houses can go there as of right it seems. Also if houses are so bad how come the neighbours have houses??? As for the Maori Cultural initiative on the land mentioned by Murray Guy, no thanks unless it pays commercial rent. Also from what I understand the Clarkson land was rural, not residential at all, so rezoning that would have a far bigger impact. Fairs fair.
Annalist ...
Posted on 18-10-2015 09:11 | By Murray.Guy
Tauranga City Council rarely recognises it's bias and conflicts of interest, as in this case. At best they should be selling the land with it's existing zoning and the purchaser having to undertake the same processes forced on Bob Clarkson or any other. The rezoning of the Tauriko land for mixed residential purposes, including more affordable homes, had significant benefits in regards safety improvements for Tauriko School, safe highway access and enhanced use of Route K and the Southern Pipe Line (white Elephant). To rezone Smiths Farm will significantly destroy the residential values next door. Fairs fair?
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