In June, Raglan Community Board members learned that work on the Raglan Spatial Plan had been stalled by the Waikato District Council following a staff recommendation. The Community Board passed a motion asking for a full report on the Spatial Plan to be made public. This motion and follow-up work by Cr Baddeley has instead resulted in work on the Spatial Plan being restarted.
At the Council meeting on 25th June, the councillors voted to withdraw their original motion, “to delay further development of the Raglan structure plan, until the outcome of the proposed Rangitahi Peninsula private plan is known”. This means that the work on the Raglan Spatial Plan will continue. The first step will be a workshop involving the Community Board and a small group of interested parties to take place in July.
Community Board Chair, Rodger Gallagher said he welcomed the move and asked any Raglan groups who would like to send a representative to the workshop to contact him.
Well done! But why a small group, rather than involve all who are interested?
The workshop is to be working session. If a large number of people attended it would be a public meeting and no work would be done. From the documents supplied by Council there is a little to report back to the community at this time so a meeting with a large group is not appropriate.
I look forward to the announcement of the workshop to prepare an appropriate structure plan and/or spatial plan for Whaingaroa.
It will be good if that happens
Do the documents supplied include the opinion surveys done for Raglan Naturally as in the 3-12-1999 report?
No
TO: Raglan Community Board
FROM: Policy and Planning Services Group Manager
FILE NUMBER: 67 01 12
DATE: 3 December 1999
SUBJECT: Looking to Raglan’s Future – Report on Survey Results
INTRODUCTION
A background report on tile work of the Community Group investigating the availability of commercial/business/industrial land for Raglan was presented to the Raglan Community Board’s meeting in November. Key points regarding the project from that report are:
The investigation into additional land to allow for business expansion received wide-spread support from respondents to the first (informal) survey and attendees at the public workshop, with the likelihood that a plan change would result once suitable land/conditions for development were identified.
A need for a Community Plan which provides for the social, economic and environmental growth of Raglan was identified.
It was reported that a formal survey would be undertaken in November to further investigate the options for business/industry expansion.
The proposal for a community plan requires further investigation in terms of what the plan should cover, who and how people would be involved, and the implementation timetable.
This report introduces the results of the survey undertaken by Gecko/DigiPoll, attached as Appendix 1, and outlines the next steps in the process towards recommending alterations to the Operative District Plan and the development of a community plan for Raglan.
REPORT
1 , Summary of Survey Results
A summary of the report on the survey results is as follows:
The report presents the finding of a survey of residents, holiday and weekend homeowners in the Raglan area. The purpose of the survey was to find out respondents’ views on options for the future development of the Raglan area.
Dipigipoll, an lndependent research company, undertook the survey. A total of 339 residents were interviewed between 23 October and 12 November 1999. The error rate for the survey was+/-5.3% at the 95% confidence level.
75% of respondents supported the expansion of the Raglan Shopping Centre with highest levels recorded for expanding the shopping area along Wainui Rd and Stewart St.
At 84%, there was strong support for retaining the existing character of the shopping centre. The palm trees, scale and type of buildings were all important features. On the other hand multistoried buildings, modem buildings; fast food restaurants, parking meters and traffic lights were among the changes people did not want to see happen.
There were high levels of support for a range of possible development options put forward for the development of the shopping centre. More shops (85%) and cafe dining above the verandah (75.5%) received the highest levels of support. More lighting (65.8%), cafe dining on the street (64.0%). Additional verandah poles (58.1%) and more trees (58.1%) also received over 50% support.
When asked how a public carpark should be funded if it was built, there was clear support for the users of the carpark to fund it. However, 70 respondents (21%) said there was no need for a carpark while another 60 respondents (18%) said the existing car parking policies should be enforced.
Just under two thirds of respondents (64%) supported the reclamation of land at the wharf. Reclaiming land to the west of the wharf gained the most support from survey respondents. Around half the respondents supported the use of any reclaimed land for car parking (52.5%) o marine industry (47.5%). Many respondents gave suggestions for the development of specific businesses including cafes and restaurants and fishing shops.
Respondents showed high levels of support for statements limiting the potential negative effects of some businesses. Other rules suggested included limiting the size of buildings and ensuring any developments blend with the environment.
Just over 15% of respondents did not want to see any further business development in the Raglan area. However, the majority of respondents were supportive of new businesses being established in the Raglan area.
Respondents were asked about where new businesses should be located given that there is limited land available in the Raglan area. At 85.5%, the option that received the highest level of support was to set no specific land aside for business development but have clear rules to assess any proposals for businesses. People would have the opportunity to support or object to any proposal. Over 70% of respondents also supported setting aside land in the rural area and in town.
2 Proposals which may form a Plan Change for Business Expansion in Raglan
A strong response in support of a change to the District Plan is a pre requisite for initiating investigation into a particular change. Any change has tb’be assessed “in terms of alternatives including “doing nothing”. Any change to the District Plan has to fee justified. It may or may not follow that investigation leads to a proposed Change to the District Plan.
Whilst there are some responses which are sufficiently strong to indicate a community direction, other responses to proposals – which have between 40% – 60% support – would be questionable in the light of,opposition. Where the support is absent there is no point in initiating a study and analysis of a particular change.
Sfrong Support
There has been strong support (60% +)for:
(1) extending the Business Zone in Wamui Road to Stewart Street
(2) extending the Business Zone in Bow Street to James Street
(3) retaining the existing character of the shopping centre
(4) more shops in the centre
(5) cafe dining in the street and above a verandah
(6) extending the wharf
(7) boat trailer parking on the wharf extension
(8) rules for business activities to reduce or avoid adverse effects
(9) providing for new business In addition to expanding the central area
(10) providing rules with which new business and service industry in Raglan town and the adjoining rural area would be assessed
(11) identifying areas for new business and service industry in Raglan town
(12) identifying areas for new business and service industry in the adjoining rural area.
Comments:
(1, 2, 11 & 12) Investigation would include clarifying what the area is, discussions with land owners, neighbours, tangata whenua, and the business community, and checking the possible adverse effects that could arise. In respect of 10 and 12, landowners in the rural area will be asked if they are interested in the use of their land for business and service industry.
(4) A shop of any type is a permitted activity in the Business Zone. The response indicates that the Business Zone for the centre should be expanded, which could mean more shops.
(5) A cafe above a verandah in Nero Street is a discretionary activity now according to the District Plan and a draft Change 18. A cafe above any other street in Raglan is a non complying activity in the District Plan and a discretionary activity in draft Change 18.
(6 & 7) A proposal for a wharf extension would be the subject of an application for resource consent to the Regional Council, Environment Waikato. There may be consequential alterations to the District Plan.
Some Support
There has been some support (40% – 60%) for
(1) extending the Business Zone in Wallis Street to James Street
(2) extending the Business. Zone along both sides of Bankart Street
(3) more trees in the shopping centre
(4) no additional verandah poles in the centre
(5) a new public car park should be funded by nearby businesses which had no parking
(6) car parking, marine industry and other activities on the wharf extension.
Comments:
(4) Additiorial trees could be in a street or on private property.
(5) The Council’s Resource Management Committee’s query in response to the Raglan Community Board’s resolution to see a stop put on more verandah poles has been answered. 58% chose ‘no additional verandah poles’ when asked about a list of possible changes for the shopping area.
3 Proposal for a Community Plan for Raglan
As a result of the infbrmation gathered from the first (informal) survey, the public workshop and theformal survey a clear call came from those interested in the future of Raglan that the development of a community plan would be an appropriate mechanism for providing for the social, economic and environmental needs of the town (refer to the media release attached as Appendix 2).
Such a plan may incorpbrate
A description of the character and lifestyle of Raglan which should be retained
The ideals and principles which the community feel important to safeguard
The vision the community has for the growth of the town
How social, economic and environmental development of the town could be integrated
Improvements to amenities such as street lighting and footpaths
Works programme for a 5 – 10 year.
It is suggested that, once a brief for the project is established by the Community Board with assistance from staff, a community group be formed as the project team. The project team could consider:
The scope of the community plan
The involvement of the community in the development of the plan
Implementation, perhaps in stages, of projects identified within the plan
The resources available
– Funding/sponsorship
– Council annual and strategic planning avenues
• Key milestones by which success can be measured.
A suggested timetable would be:
A proposed brief for the project team to be prepared for discussion at the March meeting of the Raglan Community Board
The community/project group is formed in April and reports two monthly to the Raglan Community Board on progress
After public consultation process, a 5 – 10 year community plan with associated annual works programmes is prepared for adoption by the Raglan Community Board at the end of 2000.
CONCLUSION
The information gathered from the Raglan Community through two surveys and a public workshop has provided a sound basis from which to proceed to:
investigation into Plan Changes for business expansion
development of a cpmmunity plan.
STRATEGIC, ANNUAL PLAN AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Recommendations
may result in a Plan Change process for the Operative District Plan
may be forwarded to the current review of the Strategic Plan
may be used to prepare a submission to Council’s 2000/2001 Annual Plan
BUDGET IMPLICATIONS
Nil
RECOMMENDATION
THAT the report of the Policy and Planning Services Group Manager – Looking to Raglan’s
Future – Report on Survey Results – dated 3 December 1999, be received.
AND THAT the Policy and Planning Services Group Manager:
(1) Prepare a report for the March meeting of the Raglan Community Board about changes
to the Operative District Plan as a result of the recommendations from the working group.
(2) Prepare a draft brief for the March meeting of the Raglan Community Board for the
development of a 5 -10 year community plan.
M Buttimore
POLICY AND PLANNING SERVICES GROUP MANAGER
W L Bennett
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
It appears that it’s very difficult and time consuming for the residents and ratepayers to have our representations acted upon by our elected Council in the form of a structure plan for Raglan.
Thanks for reminding us about this survey. Results would probably be similar if done again today.