A section of land in Sawyers Bay has been identified as a possible area for rezoning to address housing-capacity shortfalls under the Second-Generation Dunedin City Plan (2GP).
The land, 3 Brick Hill Rd and 18 Noyna Rd, which sits directly behind a Port Otago warehouse, is classified industrial under the plan.
The land was put forward as part of an initial evaluation, but was not selected as suitable for rezoning.
However, it is again open for consideration.
Port Otago had opposed the rezoning and said it would create "significant reverse sensitivity effects on the adjoining industrial zone land," and would create a change in permitted noise and lighting level.
GHD Ltd technical director of planning Mary O’Callahan spoke on behalf of Port Otago at the 2GP variation hearing yesterday.
Ms O’Callahan told the hearing panel the proposal, if accepted, would create issues for the port when mitigating noise and lighting.
Despite the warehouse having different rules concerning the level of noise, there was a history of complaints from those in surrounding areas, she said.
Those noise complaints came from residents living a further distance from the warehouse than the proposed site and a measurement for light-spill from the warehouse would move closer to the proposed residential area.
"I think there is pretty clear evidence to avoid putting these sorts of land uses so close together," Ms O’Callahan said.
There is no building on the land in question at present.
Ms O’Callahan said if the proposed rezoning went ahead, the committee should consider adding "bespoke clauses" to the 2GP to address the lack of provisions around residential land bordering industrial land.
"What would be a better plan is to use some of the land that is seeking to be rezoned as some sort of buffer or noise wall," she said.
The hearing panel will consider exploring alternative ways for noise mitigation if the proposal is approved.
It expected to hear a response from a representative of the owner of the land, K and L Accommodation Ltd at a later date.
