Proposed Plan Change 4 (Private) - Welhom Developments Ltd

Council has received a private plan change request from Welhom Developments Ltd (“the requestor”) to change the District Plan in relation to part of 65 and 73 Ratanui Road, Otaihanga (“the site”). On p.1 of its request, the requestor states that the purpose of the private plan change is:

"…to rezone the Site from its current Rural Lifestyle Zone to General Residential Zone under the District Plan with a Development Area and associated Structure Plan, policies and rules.

The Request will enable the residential development of the Site, with specific provision for uses associated with a retirement village."

You can view:

• Welhom Developments Ltd private plan change request [PDF 2.84 MB] (also known as Proposed Plan Change 4, or PC4)
• Map showing the location and current zoning of the land [PDF 2.54 MB] at part of 65 and 73 Ratanui Road
• Public notice including details about how to make a submission on this private plan change request.

Public notification of the plan change

Proposed Plan Change 4 (Private) – Welhom Developments Ltd was publicly notified on 30 May 2025. The plan change was open for submissions until 5pm, Tuesday 1 July 2025.

This public notice was circulated:

• In the 30 May 2025 edition of the Dominion Post newspaper.
• Online on the Council website.
• Via direct mail to people considered by Council to be “likely to be directly affected” by the plan change. This map shows the properties whose ratepayers received this mail. [PDF 2.54 MB]

 If you have any questions about this private plan change request, please email our District Planning team.

Timeline

Completed:

• 2 December 2024 – Requestor formally lodges private plan change request with Council.
• 16 January 2025 – Council sent further information request to Requestor.
• 14 – 27 February 2025 – Council received response to further information request.
• 13 March 2025 – Council’s Strategy, Operations and Finance Committee resolved to accept Proposed Plan Change 4 [PDF 2.84 MB] (see item 9.1 on the agenda). This decision allows the private plan change to proceed through a Schedule 1 RMA process, including public notification, submissions and further submissions, a hearing, recommendations to Council from an independent hearings panel whether to decline, accept or accept with modifications the private plan change, the  Council’s decision on the private plan change, and (potentially) appeals to the Environment Court.
• 30 May 2025 –Council publicly notified Proposed Plan Change 4 [PDF 2.84 MB], allowing submissions to be made.
• 1 July 2025 - Submission period closed.

Future:

• TBC – Public notice of the opportunity to make further submissions.
• TBC – Council holds a hearing where an independent hearing panel assesses the request and submissions made and makes recommendations to Council whether it should decline, approve, or approve with modifications the plan change (with reasons).
• TBC – Council considers the independent hearing panel’s recommendations and then issues a decision on the request.
• TBC – Council decision is open to appeal to the Environment Court.