The commission has decided to allow the construction of six-storey buildings in downtown Mount Maunganui, despite recommendations from an independent panel to keep the current three-storey limit. This decision is part of Tauranga City Council’s Plan Change 33, which aims to increase building heights in Mount Maunganui North. The plan proposes six-storey buildings in the shopping area and within 400 metres of it, and four-storey buildings between 400-800m of the shops.
The independent panel’s recommendation to keep the current building heights was based on concerns about traffic congestion, air pollution, lack of infrastructure, and the impact on the area’s unique character. However, the commission rejected this recommendation, along with another one about removing a height limit in the city centre. These rejected recommendations will now be sent to the Minister for Housing for a final decision.
The commission argues that higher building heights in Mount Maunganui North will create more development opportunities and improve housing affordability. It will also help the city meet its development capacity requirements, which is the amount of land a council must have available for housing and commercial activity to meet demand.
However, local developer Peter Cooney disagrees, saying that building apartments won’t create affordable homes due to the high cost of land and construction. The commission also wants to keep the 16m height limit on a block of land in the city centre to maintain the waterfront’s appeal and prevent shading from buildings.
Plan Change 33 is a response to the Government’s medium-density residential standards (MDRS) that allow for greater intensification in urban areas. The plan change also aligns with the government’s National Policy Statement on Urban Development. This means allowing as much height as possible in the city centre and greater heights and density around the commercial centres within other suburbs of Tauranga.
