Raglan CBD expansion approved

The Raglan CBD expansion into Bankart St, Wainui Rd and Wallis Street has been approved. The approval by the commissioners was advised to submitters in a letter dated 9.09.2016. Public notification in newspapers will occur on Thursday 15th and a copy of the decision will be available in the Raglan Library. The WDC originally announced the proposed change in May 2014. It has taken over two years to weave its way through the RMA process.

The expansion, part of Waikato District Council’s Plan Change 14, sees  a small area of Wallis Street rezoned as Business with the Town Centre overlay conditions. Even numbered properties  in Bankart St and 8, 10, 12 Wainui Rd now have multiple use of residential, retail and office with a ‘business overlay’.  This overlay imposes tight rules on the business use and effectively normalises the current usage of the area.

The commissioners who considered the submissions accepted some submissions, accepted some parts of some and rejected others before coming to their decision.

Also approved was a change of zoning around the Poihakena Marae to Pa Zone.

A discussion between WDC planners and the developer of Nau Mai Business Park resulted in a new revised proposal which appears to cap the future expansion of the Business Park. This Revised Proposal with a Light Industrial Zone has been approved by the commissioners.

Another small zoning change sees the home at 75 Wallis next to the Wharf Kitchen move into the Business Zone.

Submitters have a right to appeal the decision to the Environment Court. They have 30 days t lodge their appeals.