Archive | Zoning

Proposed Plan Change 160 – Introduction of the Helensville Residential Heritage Policy and Other Changes

By Cindy on June 7, 2011 in auckland, Auckland Council, Blog, District Plan, Resource Consent, Zoning

Proposed Plan Change 160: Introduction of Helensville Residential Heritage Policy and Other Changes seeks to change the provisions of the Auckland Council District Plan (Rodney Section) to better protect heritage values and resources in the older residential areas of Helensville.

The Plan Change implements a policy area (the Helensville Residential Heritage Policy Area) that overlies existing zones of the District Plan (the Residential M zone) so that there are additional rules that apply to these areas (in addition to the zone rules). The are affected by the Proposed Helensville Residential Heritage Policy Area is attached and is shown on the picture below:

The extent of the Helensville Residential Heritage Policy Area

Legend for the Extent of the Helensville Residenital Heritage Policy Area

Legend for the Extent of the Helensville Residential Heritage Policy Area

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Planning (Zoning) Maps – one of the most useful tools of a District or Regional Plan

By Cindy on December 6, 2010 in auckland, Blog, council, District Plan, queenstown, Zoning

Planning maps are one of the most commonly referred to parts of District and Regional plans. They are usually the first part of a District/Regional plan you need to look at to identify the limitations that apply to your site and accordingly, the relevant rules that will apply. Planning maps contain useful information including:

zoning
designations
policy area boundaries
hazard areas
significant sites
scheduled features such as buildings, trees, structures etc.
sometimes plan changes are referenced
special height limitations (i.e. for volcanic cone protection, or height restrictions around Airports)

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Can I Erect a Sign or Billboard On My Residentially Zoned Property? (Examples from the former Auckland City Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council)

By Cindy on November 11, 2010 in Auckland Council, Blog, District Plan, queenstown, Uncategorized, Zoning

This article explains the types of signs or billboards that are generally allowed on residential properties using examples from the former Auckland City Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council. As always, all District Plans or rules for a district/city are different, so it depends on the area (and zone) of your property as to what sort of signs and/or billboards that you can erect.

It is also important to note that not all District Plans provide rules on signage. For example, in the former Auckland City Council, rules regarding signs and billboards are provided within the Council Bylaw rather than the District Plan.

Signage is controlled in the former Auckland City Council by the Signs Bylaw rather than the District Plan

Firstly, before I discuss a few examples – it is important to note that there are significant differences between a sign and a billboard.

The former Auckland City Council Bylaws describe signs as:

Sign means a message or notice conveyed using any visual media, which can be seen from a public place and which advertises a product, business, or service or informs or warns the public. A sign includes the frame, supporting device and any associated ancillary equipment whose principal function is to support the message or notice. It includes but is not limited to a billboard, mural, banner, flag, balloon, poster, sandwich board, wind sock, blimp or projection of light.

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Can I Subdivide My Site? – Taupo District Plan Example

By Cindy on July 14, 2010 in Blog, Development Potential, District Plan, Pre Purchase, Subdivision, Zoning

A common property question asked is if a site can be subdivided – or if a second residential dwelling or unit can be built on a property.

To answer these questions you first need to establish the zoning of the site and what the rules for the specific zone provide for. There are also other restrictions to subdividing or constructing additional buildings on a site – including any limitations noted within the ‘Interests” of the relevant Certificate of Title or if there are capacity issues in servicing the site – i.e. water supply, storm water and waste connections). To discuss any of these additional restrictions and limitations contact us.

In this post, I have used an example from the Taupo District Council District Plan. Figure 1 below is a snapshot of land within the Taupo District that have a mix of different zones.

Figure 1: Zoning maps