KEY POINTS:
Developer Tony Gapes is dropping his contentious plans for apartment blocks on the Orakei headland so a masterplan can be developed for the sensitive coastal site.
Mr Gapes' Redwood Group yesterday signed a deal with the Auckland City Council to produce a plan for the 5ha Orakei headland that includes a mix of private and public land.
The deal was brokered by Mayor John Banks, who criticised Mr Gapes' plans for five apartment blocks at 228 Orakei Rd at a resource consent hearing in January. Hobson councillor Aaron Bhatnagar also played a key role in the agreement.
Mr Gapes' plans for 228 Orakei Rd, another development for 42 apartments at 246 Orakei Rd and more apartments on 3ha he controls have caused much anguish on the northern slopes of Remuera.
Talks of a masterplan in the past have proved fruitless. The much-maligned ad hoc development at Quay Park was held up at the January hearing as a reason to provide a masterplan for Orakei.
Mr Gapes said he had agreed to fund a masterplan costing about $1 million and hired Jasmax architects to draw up concepts.
"It's a fantastic site and we have got an opportunity to do a world-class development that could possibly be the best development in Auckland."
At this stage he was "disregarding" his plans for Orakei and looking to hear from locals and the council.
Mr Banks said the masterplan was a victory for local residents, who had been asking for a commonsense approach to develop the headland.
Warren Tuohey of the Orakei Residents' Society said the 300-strong group was delighted at the outcome.
Redwood is organising an open day at 246 Orakei Rd on March 19 where people can view the concepts and provide feedback.
