Milford high-density plan to be re-notified

(PR.co.nz) A private plan change allowing high density development on the Milford Mall site will be re-notified giving residents another opportunity to have their say and enable a hearings process.

Auckland Council’s Hearings Committee agreed to time extensions up to October 2012 for the re-notification and hearings. The plan change will be re-notified before the end of next month.

The former North Shore City Council (NSCC) first notified the plan change request in October 2008. It attracted 1290 submissions.

Hearings did not take place then because more information on traffic effects and total number and height of apartments was required. Auckland Council has recently received the required information enabling the private plan change process to continue.

“Re-notifying allows people new to the area to lodge a submission,” said Councillor Penny Webster, deputy chair of the Hearings Committee. “Original submissions received in 2008 will be carried forward and remain valid but submitters can re-submit if they wish and we shall be writing to all submitters to advise them of this as part of the re-notification correspondence.”

She added: “Re-notification at this time is an appropriate and fair way forward for all parties. The council has not previously been in a position to adequately assess the effects of the development without the necessary information.”

All direct costs for re-notification and hearings will met by the applicant, NZ Retail Property Group.

Media Release from Auckland City Council on 23 August 2011