More housing options put suburbs on the map
Published on 09 November 2022
A map showing the areas we propose to become a new Medium Density Residential Zone in the city is now available – and we’re keen to hear feedback from our community.
The areas have been proposed for medium density housing due to their walkable distance to things people may use on a regular basis, like bus stops, parks, schools and shopping centres.
Tip: Zoom in or use the search bar to see if your property is included in the proposed zone for medium density housing. Areas within 800 metres of our city centre are already enabled for medium density housing.
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The new zone would have different rules on what types of housing could be built there. New homes would be able to be built taller and closer together. The plan change also proposes a set range of quality standards for new homes that if met would no longer require notification of neighbours or resource consent.
Chief Planning Officer David Murphy says the release of the map shows areas of the city where landowners would now have more options as to what they build on their properties.
“Palmerston North, like the rest of New Zealand, needs more homes. Medium density housing means landowners now have a range of housing types available to them, and therefore so will our home buyers and renters.”
He says homes within the zone could be up to 3 storeys, with a minimum site size of 150m² per dwelling. This means more could be contained within a site and developers could make better use of the city’s airspace as real estate. The minimum lot size for the Residential Zone in our current District Plan is 350m2.
“Not everyone wants or needs a 3-bedroom home on a full section. With household sizes shrinking, medium density gives the option of smaller sections where residents can walk to the things they need on a daily basis. This may be very appealing for people who’d rather be at the local park than mowing the lawns.”
He points out that family homes on single sections could still be built too, and that changes within Palmerston North’s neighbourhoods would likely be gradual over the coming decades.
“Medium density is already enabled within 800 metres of the city centre and around our neighbourhood shopping centres in Hokowhitu, Milson, Highbury and Awapuni. What we’ve seen so far is a gradual change, with some developers building more on each site and others sticking with traditional type homes.
“The proposed plan change aims to cut red tape and make housing more accessible. Meeting the requirements without having to go through a resource consent process means more homes can be built faster, and hopefully cheaper.”
Enabling more housing within the urban area we’re already using can reduce our climate emissions by making it easier for people to walk, bus, scooter or bike to get around the city instead of relying on cars. Mr Murphy says it also helps reduce the need to expand into our rural environment.
“To protect the soils around Palmerston North which help us grow and produce food we need to keep housing within set boundaries. Allowing uncontrolled urban sprawl would also mean we’d have to build infrastructure and services for homes further and further away from our city centre. This would be expensive and use too many resources.
“Instead, we have a target for 55% of our growth to be built within our city’s current urban boundary over the short-term, and 45% over the next 10 years. This will help use our city’s space to its full potential.”
We’re keen to hear your views on where we’re proposing to put Palmerston North’s Medium Density Residential Zone. We’d also like to know what you think of the proposed design quality standards, and any other opinions you have on our plan change proposal.
Get more info and have your say by filling out our online feedback form at pncc.govt.nz/growing
You can pick up a paper form at our Customer Service Centre on the Square or any Council library.
To talk about the proposed plan change in person come along to a drop-in session at the Palmerston North Conference & Function Centre: between 1pm and 3pm on Saturday 19 November and Sunday 27 November.
This feedback period closes at 5pm on 7 December 2022. The information received will help us solidify our draft proposal of the plan change for formal notification early next year. This is when we’ll ask for formal submissions and if you’d like to give your views in person at a hearing.