However, most of the city would be untouched, according to Auckland Council. <\/p>\n
About 85% of Auckland\u2019s urban area would see no change, with planning rules staying as they are now.<\/p>\n
Mayor Wayne Brown said that, after years of debate, residents wanted the council \u201cto stop talking about it and get on with the job\u201d of finalising the planning rules.<\/p>\n
\u201cAuckland needs to intensify in the right places to make the most of our [City Rail Link] investments,\u201d he said, referring to the plan\u2019s focus on high-rise development near train stations.<\/p>\n
He encouraged all Aucklanders to have their say on the plans.<\/p>\n
Public submissions opened on Thursday and run until 5pm on September 24.<\/p>\n
A final set of rules is due to be decided by the middle of next year.<\/p>\n
The new map is different to that published by the Herald in July<\/a>.<\/p>\n After feedback from local boards and iwi, the council reduced building heights to six storeys at suburban hubs more than 10km from the city centre.<\/p>\n It also cut plans to build six-storey towers at what were called local centres \u2013 small shopping areas such as Blockhouse Bay or Grey Lynn, or where there might be just a dairy and fish and chip shop \u2013 after objections from local boards.<\/p>\n The interactive map can help make sense of what\u2019s up for debate and what could change.<\/p>\n An important feature allows you to turn on \u201cwalkable catchments\u201d and \u201cfrequent transport corridors\u201d.<\/p>\n These show where the tallest buildings and heaviest development will be allowed, as well as the busy bus routes where six-storey blocks can be built.<\/p>\n Turning on these features will show whether your home is in a high-rise catchment or sits close to a transport route destined for greater intensity.<\/p>\n Residential zones explained:<\/p>\n Residential \u2013 Large Lot: One or more homes on large sections with no or limited reticulated services on the edge of urban areas.Residential \u2013 Single House: Single houses on medium to large sections in established suburbs with specific values, such as Special Character Areas of villas and bungalows.Residential \u2013 Mixed Housing Suburban: Typically, one- and two-storey suburban standalone homes.Residential \u2013 Mixed Housing Urban: Three storeys of detached homes, terrace housing and low-rise apartments are permitted as of right, or four storeys with a resource consent.Residential \u2013 Terrace Housing and Apartment Building: This zone provides the greatest density, and is where most future development is planned.<\/p>\n \u2018A real compromise\u2019: Mayor Brown<\/p>\n The Auckland housing plan now open for submissions was settled at a July council meeting after years of debate.<\/p>\n It blended two rival options, known as Scenario A and Scenario B, that councillors had sent out to Auckland\u2019s local boards and iwi a month earlier, after rejecting bolder plans for the city<\/a>.<\/p>\n Local board and iwi feedback led council staff to draw up the new hybrid plan, with councillors voting 17-5 to adopt it and put it for public submissions.<\/p>\n The hybrid plan more closely follows the plan for train station hubs set out in Scenario B, but also takes a more individual approach to each location, based on feedback.<\/p>\n Meadowbank station is an example of where buildings will be restricted to six storeys, given road access to the station is limited and the surrounding area is mostly suburban without many shops.<\/p>\n The latest plan also focuses on keeping new homes out of the places most likely to flood.<\/p>\n Using updated flood modelling and rainfall data, it downzones some of the city\u2019s most flood-prone areas, meaning fewer homes can be built there.<\/p>\n Brown called it a \u201creal compromise\u201d, focused on areas where the city had been sensible and had \u201csunk a lot of cash into upgraded public transport\u201d and infrastructure.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve stopped shoving a whole lot of multi-storey buildings in very small shopping complexes in parts of Auckland where they weren\u2019t welcome,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cBut where there\u2019s big shopping complexes, that\u2019s where people want to live.\u201d<\/p>\n Not everyone agreed it was a compromise.<\/p>\n Councillor John Gillon said the plan would lift the city\u2019s housing capacity from 1.2 million homes under current rules to 1.7 million.<\/p>\n He argued that was a big increase, given the Government had stipulated the minimum requirement was that room be made in the city for at least 1.4 million homes.<\/p>\n Why does Auckland need more homes?<\/p>\n Auckland Council was forced to draw up the new planning rules by the Government.<\/p>\n It released a major change to planning rules in 2016, aimed at guiding the city into the future by making room for 1.2 million homes to be built.<\/p>\n But successive governments, facing housing shortages and soaring house prices, pushed for more ambitious rules to open up more development.<\/p>\n The council was initially told to allow for two million homes.<\/p>\n But after significant suburban backlash, the Government retreated and cut that requirement to 1.4 million<\/a> in March. The council is required by law to meet the new target.<\/p>\n The proposed planning changes will affect only about 15% of the city\u2019s urban area.<\/p>\n The rest of the city will remain unchanged.<\/p>\n Auckland councillor and planning committee chairman Richard Hills said the latest plan provided housing choice in locations that made the most sense, such as those near public transport, jobs, water infrastructure and parks.<\/p>\n But ultimately it was up to Aucklanders to help decide.<\/p>\n \u201cWe encourage people to look at what\u2019s proposed for their neighbourhood and across Auckland, and tell us what they think by making a submission.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is really important the panel hears what you like and what you do not like about the plan, and where the next 30 years of housing growth may go.\u201d<\/p>\n Submissions made in the earlier public consultation round still stand, but those wanting to have their say or adjust their comments can do so at the council\u2019s AK Have Your Say<\/a> site.<\/p>\n