KEY POINTS:
The company behind the controversial $250 million retail, office and apartment Soho Square development in Ponsonby has responded to concerns about its plans - and come up with even bigger plans for the site.
Marlin Group's latest plans for the old DYC vinegar factory go 80 per cent over the permitted building limit for the site.
The previous plan, which envisaged going 70 per cent over the floor area permitted under the Auckland City Council district plan, attracted widespread condemnation from Ponsonby's art and fashion brigade who opposed the "shopping mall-type development".
The majority of 222 submissions gave it the thumbs down and the council's urban design panel said it was too big and out of character for the historic inner-city suburb.
Marlin responded by going back to the drawing board and in its latest resource consent application, the company has addressed the issue of the Square dominating buildings fronting Williamson Ave, Crummer Rd and Pollen St, throwing others in the shade and effects on heritage buildings.
The company has reconfigured the development to provide more commercial space, fewer shops, cafes and bars and increased the number of apartments from 45 to 52. Plans for five cinemas with 717 seats are on hold.
The number of carparks over five basement levels has gone up to 1317. This compares with 2018 carparks at Westfield St Lukes and 1970 at the council's Downtown carpark.
Bryce Hill, of Traffic Planning Consultants, said traffic and parking effects associated with Soho Square would not compromise "the function, capacity or safety of the surrounding road network".
Project director Paul Hudson said Marlin believed it had addressed the concerns raised by the earlier plans, sought feedback from neighbours and worked with the urban design panel and groups like the ASB Trust, which has its headquarters in the listed Allendale building on the corner of Ponsonby and Crummer Rds.
Mr Hudson said Marlin had introduced the "feel of the Ponsonby main strip" with stonework on the majority of buildings, brought the height and bulk into the middle of the site, provided 3500sq m of largely cobbled open space and taken the bulk back from the Allendale building.
The extra floor space and an 18m height extension were mainly for more apartments in the middle of the site.
Excavation work for the underground parking started last month under a resource consent already issued to Marlin.
Arts patron Hamish Keith, who opposed the first plans for Soho Square, yesterday said his concern was the effect of such an intensive development on the lifeblood of Ponsonby Rd.
Mr Keith said the council needed to address the effects on Ponsonby Rd and the character of the local community, including the traffic impacts, particularly for pedestrians.
"Otherwise Ponsonby may well choke and die."
The public can view Marlin's resource consent application at Grey Lynn community library, 474 Great North Rd, and the council's service centre at 35 Graham St in the central city. Submissions close on April 10.
The Latest Plan
* Seven new buildings up to eight storeys high on the 1.3ha site.
* Mostly commercial space but some retail and 52 apartments.
* Five-level underground carpark with 1317 spaces.
* Exceeds floor area by 80 per cent and height control by 18m.
* Greater Ponsonby Rd feel.
* Height and bulk moving to middle of site.
