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December, 2009 A major multi-million dollar Wanaka commercial and residential development has been given the go ahead by commissioners but with fewer big box retail stores and more green space than originally proposed.The Three Parks commercial development is to be created over 100ha of Willowridge Developments land and will become a secondary retail precinct for Wanaka. Commissioners Gillian Macleod and Leigh Overton have recommended to the Queenstown Lakes District Council that about 100ha of land south of Wanaka be rezoned to allow the development. Their 124-page decision, dated December 4, follows three days of hearings in September and community consultation that drew 19 submissions in support and 18 in opposition. Central to the commissioners' recommendation is a proviso that commercial development be scaled back and introduced in stages, subject to the good health of the existing town centre. Critics had feared the development of a new commercial hub would spell the demise of the existing town centre, with Sustainable Wanaka saying it would be a "death by a thousand cuts". The original proposal called for 20.2ha of large-format retail stores, which the commissioners have reduced to 8.5ha. A further 7.2ha has been set aside for expansion of this "commercial core", but could only be developed via another plan change. As such, the Low Density Residential zone had been increased from a proposed 32.3ha to 39ha, and protected to ensure only residential, education and daycare facilities could be built. The amount of green space had also increased.
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Queenstown Property Limited |
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