Quick rezone for SmartGrowth land

Tauranga's Bob Clarkson had wanted his land at Tauriko to become a Special Housing Area.

A compromise has been reached on the controversial issue of fast-tracking the development of Bob Clarkson's land at Tauriko.

Tauranga City Council voted 7-2 in favour of the option that stopped short of rapidly rezoning the 40 hectares owned by one of the city's biggest property developers.

The council instead backed the rapid rezoning of land currently in the Western Bay's urban growth masterplan, SmartGrowth. It also called for a "strategic assessment" of the wider Tauriko corridor - areas outside The Lakes and the neighbouring commercial park. Mr Clarkson's remaining option, for his land to become a Special Housing Area, was ruled out by the council last month.

Councillor Catherine Stewart backed the option of fast-tracking the rezoning of Mr Clarkson's land, winning support from councillors Bill Grainger and Rick Curach. She said there was a growth surge coming up and SmartGrowth needed to be more nimble. "Things have changed, even in the last few months."

Councillor John Robson asked whether she had the backing of SmartGrowth's partner councils - the Regional Council and Western Bay District Council. Otherwise it would be "somewhat pointless".

Councillor Curach argued that Tauranga had a very unaffordable housing market, with young people unable to get onto the property ladder.

Mr Clarkson has promised to discount 50 of the 200 houses planned to be built on his block behind the Tauriko Service Station by 25 per cent, delivering a house and land package for about $310,000.

Mayor Stuart Crosby warned that rezoning Mr Clarkson's land required a special change to the Regional Council's umbrella planning document, the Regional Policy Statement. He said there would be considerable opposition to rezoning Tauriko West, enough to tie up the process for a long time. Mr Crosby said the option favoured by Cr Stewart was slower. "There is a massive financial risk if you get this planning wrong. You must learn from history - tens of millions are at stake," he said. The land would ultimately get its day in the sun but rezoning it now would damage SmartGrowth relationships built up over a long time.

The debate began with Regional Councillor Paula Thompson saying that SmartGrowth's partners were gravely concerned that the council was trying to operate outside SmartGrowth processes. It was up to the city council to find a way forward that upheld the integrity of SmartGrowth. The option agreed by the council required technical work to get started on Keenan Rd and the Te Tumu growth areas. Deputy Mayor Kelvin Clout was unable to attend the meeting even though he was the prime mover of the bid to work outside SmartGrowth timeframes for Mr Clarkson's land.