Shaping our City
Shaping our City is the name of the Palmerston North City
Council Sectional District Plan Review.
In the past, a full review was required every 10 years. However,
recent changes to the Resource Management Act now enable the
Council to review the District Plan in sections. (View Index of Sectional District Plan Review Plan
Changes)
The Shaping our City project will review different aspects of
the District Plan over the next five years. Central to the project
is consultation with the community. We want to help the community
understand what the District Plan is and how it affects them. The
Shaping our City project does this by breaking down the District
Plan into sections and asking people to comment on them
individually.
We need to find out what the community thinks will be the key
environmental issues, demands and areas for careful consideration
and management for Palmerston North in the future. By looking after
our City now we are creating a sustainable future so generations
can enjoy it as well.
Have you got something to say?
You can talk to the Council's planning team on 06 356 8199
What is a Sectional District Plan Review?
A District Plan is the key document that tells you what you can
and cannot do on land in our city. It covers the Central Business
District (CBD), residential suburbs, industrial areas and rural
land. The policies and rules in a District Plan are designed to
maintain a high standard of environmental responsibility and
sustainability.
The District Plan manages significant issues such as urban
growth and business and industrial development. It also manages
more minor matters such as the minimum distance a garage should be
located from a property boundary.
Recent changes to the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA 1991)
mean the District Plan can now be reviewed in sections, as opposed
to one full review every 10 years.
The sectional approach gives people the flexibility to pick
aspects of the District Plan that are specific to them and give the
Council their thoughts and ideas. For example, the first section to
be reviewed is the Central Business Zone. If you own a building
that is located in one of these zones there may be proposed changes
in Draft Plan Change One that affect you. You may also just have a
view on something in this change that you want to make clear -
anyone can comment.
The District Plan is available in hard copy at the planning
counter of the Palmerston North City Council or available for download in sections - (Internal
Link)
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Why do we need to review the District Plan?
A lot can happen in 10 years. A review of the District Plan
allows communities to reassess environmental outcomes and
priorities, and to redefine the district's vision.
There is a lot in our existing District Plan that works well but
there are some areas where we need to modify things to take into
account emerging issues such as energy efficiency, renewable
energy, climate change, sustainability and urban design. This
reflects the fact that we live in a changing environment with
changing issues and levels of knowledge.
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Growth projections - what do we need to plan for?
Palmerston North is expected to have more than 94,000 people
living in the city by 2031. We need to plan and manage where will
they live, work and play. Projections also indicate that there will
be an additional 20,800 jobs, and we will need to plan for
commercial and industrial developments to cater for them.
At the same time the average household size is due to decline,
and the population is getting older. This has implications
for the kind of housing and community facilities that we will need
in the future.
Further information on projections is set out in the summary document, Projections for Palmerston North
2009-2031
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Project Timeline
Stage one (starting January 2010)
- All introductory sections
- Specific zones: Rural zone including rural-residential
subdivision and wind farms; Residential Zone including giving
effect to the Residential Growth Review; and Business Zones (Retail
Strategy).
- Ancillary sections as required.
Stage two (starting July 2011)
- Specific zones: Airport Zone; and the Industrial Zone,
including giving effect to the Joint Industrial Land Review.
- Standalone sections: Natural Hazards; Cultural and Natural
Heritage; and Designations.
- Ancillary sections as required.
Stage three (starting January 2013)
- Specific zones: Institutional Zone; and the Recreation
Zone.
- Ancillary sections as required.
Stage four (starting July 2014)
- Specific zones: Caccia Birch Zone; and the Race Training
Zone.
- Standalone sections: Information Requirements; Hazardous
Substances; Utilities; and Monitoring.
- Ancillary sections as required.
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What you should know…
- Palmerston North is expected to have more than 94,000 people
living in the city by 2031. Where will they live, work and
play?
- The District Plan tells you what you can and cannot do on land
in the district. Do you have any thoughts about what you should be
able to do on your land?
- The Palmerston North District Plan is one of the first to be
reviewed in sections. Sections of the District Plan will be
consulted on in four phases over the next five years.
- The District Plan addresses new technologies and pressures such
as energy efficiency, renewable energy, sustainability and urban
design. How do you think we should deal with these issues?
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