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

Decision to “accept” plan change

On 13 March 2025, Council’s Strategy, Operations and Finance Committee resolved to “accept” this private plan change request under clause 25 of Schedule 1 of the RMA (refer to “Initial Decision on Welhom Developments Ltd Private Plan Change”).

The Council’s decision to accept the private plan change request means that the private plan change can 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.

Upcoming public notification of the plan change

The RMA requires public notification of a private plan change to occur within four months of Council deciding to accept it to be processed through Schedule 1.  Council will publicly notify this private plan change on 30 May 2025.

In accordance with further RMA requirements (clause 5 of Schedule 1):

• The public notice will include key details about the plan change process, including how to make a submission [PDF 793 KB].
• The public notice will be circulated through:
  • Publication in the 30 May 2025 edition of the Dominion Post newspaper, and online on the Council website at the same time.
  • Mail-out to people considered by Council to be “likely to be directly affected” by the plan change. This map shows the properties whose ratepayers will receive this mail [PDF 2.54 MB]. Ratepayers in this area should receive their public notice on or before 30 May 2025.

This webpage will be updated again prior to 30 May. The update will include a link to the public notice.

 If you have any questions about this private plan change request, including how to make a submission, 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 resolves to accept Proposed Plan Change 4 [PDF 2.84 MB] for processing under Schedule 1 (see item 9.1 on the agenda).

Future:

• 30 May 2025 – Date that Council will publicly notify Proposed Plan Change 4 [PDF 2.84 MB] , allowing submissions to be made.
• 5pm, Tuesday 1 July 2025: Submissions close.
• 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.