The Raglan Land Company is proposing a rezoning of the Rangitahi Peninsula to allow development and subdivision of the land. This would provide for a large future expansion of Raglan over the next 40 years. The company has written to affected people and provided them with information on the development. In the letter it says that, “The development will contain a village area with a few small shops (for example, a dairy, takeaway shop and café) and other community facilities. The shops proposed will be on a small scale to ensure that they do not affect the viability and vitality of the Raglan town centre.”
The proposal is that the Rangitahi Peninsula be amended from Coastal Zone to a new zone to be called the “Rangitahi Living Zone”. This is a private initiative by the Raglan Land Company and has not been initiated by the Waikato District Council. Access to the development from Raglan would be via a new bridge from Opotoru Road. Approval for this bridge was obtained a few years ago. The directors of the Raglan Land Company are Michael CRAWFORD, David PEACOCKE and Matthew PEACOCKE.
Further information is available at http://raglanland.co.nz/raglan/about/rangitahi/rangitahi-consultation/
Full text of the letter follows:
PROPOSED PLAN CHANGE: RANGITAHI PENINSULA, RAGLAN (25 March 2013)
We are writing to you on behalf of Raglan Land Company Limited (“RLC”).
RLC owns approximately 116 hectares of land on the Rangitahi Peninsula, Raglan. RLC is proposing to rezone the majority of that land and to develop it over the next 30-40 years into a sustainable master planned community.
The purpose of this letter is to supply some background information regarding RLC’s proposed development of the Rangitahi Peninsula, and to offer you the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposal.
10 THE PROPOSAL
RLC intends to create a development in which the local and district community will take real pride; one which may well provide a model for sustainable urban development in the Waikato District and elsewhere. Attached to this letter is a brochure which provides further information about the proposal and also details of a web site and an 0800 phone number where further information can be obtained.
The development will contain a village area with a few small shops (for example, a dairy, takeaway shop and café) and other community facilities. The shops proposed will be on a small scale to ensure that they do not affect the viability and vitality of the Raglan town centre.
There will also be extensive green corridors of open space and vegetation including a number of reserves that will be connected by public walkways and cycleways.
Protection of the Whaingaroa Harbour is a high priority. To ensure its protection RLC is committed to revegetation initiatives and low impact stormwater design.
2.0 PRIVATE PLAN CHANGE
RLC is in the process of preparing a private plan change request with the intention of lodging it with the Waikato District Council (“WDC”) once WDC’s proposed district plan becomes operative. We expect this to be in June of this year.
RLC will be requesting that the zoning of the Rangitahi Peninsula be amended from Coastal Zone to a new zone to be called the “Rangitahi Living Zone”. While the new zone will apply to approximately 100 hectares of land, it is only intended that around 43 hectares of that land will be developed. The remaining area will be a combination of rural land and natural vegetation areas.
The proposed Rangitahi Living Zone land is almost entirely in the ownership of RLC, although at the northern tip of the Peninsula there are six residential sized properties containing established dwellings that are owned by other parties. It is proposed that these properties are also rezoned by the plan change.
A coastal strip around the Peninsula that is currently in public ownership will not be subject to any development. Public access to this strip will be enhanced through this proposal.
3.0 FURTHER INFORMATION
RLC recognises the significance of the Rangitahi Peninsula within Raglan and the Whaingaroa Harbour and is seeking input from the Raglan community and other interested persons and organisations into how the Peninsula might be developed.
RLC will be holding two community open days where people will be able to drop by to discuss the proposal with RLC’s director, long term Raglan resident, David Peacocke. David will be accompanied by his team of landscape, urban design, roading, infrastructure and planning specialists. Representatives from WDC will also be present.
The first open day will be held in the Raglan Town Hall, 41 Bow Street, Raglan on Saturday 6 April 2013 from 10am to 3pm.
For those who may wish to visit the site, a second open day will be held on Saturday 11 May 2013 from 10am to 3pm at the Rangitahi Peninsula. Access for this second open day is via the Opotoru Road causeway or walk bridge. Limited parking is available on Opotoru Road or Goodare Road, otherwise we recommend parking adjacent to the Raglan Air Strip on Marine Parade, a 5-10 minute walk to the Rangitahi Peninsula.
Information is also available through the project website (www.raglanland.co.nz). Alternatively, you could phone 0800 726 448 (0800 RANGITAHI) and ask to speak with the Project Manager for this planning phase of the project, Andrew Collins.
4.0 FEEDBACK
RLC would welcome your feedback on the proposal outlined above. Feedback can be provided directly to the RLC team at the community open days, or via the 0800 number or project website as noted above. Please use one of these methods if you wish to arrange a meeting with RLC representatives to discuss the proposal further.
Yours faithfully
Harrison Grierson Consultants Limited
Andrew Collins Director