A Dunedin developer wanting to continue a theme of family street names in his 52-lot residential subdivision in Mosgiel could be facing a dead-end.
Rennie Logan, the developer behind the 52-lot, three-stage Gladstone Oaks subdivision, is seeking Dunedin City Council approval to name a road in the subdivision Prudence Pl, after his sister, and an access way Karen Lane, after his wife.
Mr Logan said the names would continue a family theme which began with the naming of the development's main road - Irwin Logan Dr - after his father.
Irwin Logan was the original landowner, a GP and former deputy mayor of the Mosgiel borough, before amalgamation.
Other lanes in the development had already been named after Irwin Logan's grandchildren, in accordance with his wishes.
The new names would continue the theme, with Prudence Irwin Logan's oldest daughter and Karen his daughter-in-law, Mr Logan said.
However, standing in the way was the road-naming policy adopted by the council in December last year, partway through the development of Mr Logan's subdivision.
The policy spelt out rules for new names and the aim of better reflecting community identities in street names, and attracted just three submissions during public consultation.
It required new names to reflect a common or established theme, an historical person or event, a significant feature, a traditional or appropriate Maori name, or a personal name to recognise special service.
Despite the reference to an established theme, a report by council information support officer Bruce Hall - to be considered at today's infrastructure services committee meeting - said the proposed names did not comply with the new policy.
His report left the final decision to councillors, but warned against setting a precedent for future road names inside the development and for "working outside the policy".
A "critical factor" would be whether previous decisions to approve family-oriented names should be taken into account and override the new policy, introduced partway through the development, he said.
Mr Logan said the names were for use in the final 21-lot stage of the three-stage development, and had support from residents and the Mosgiel Taieri Community Board.
He believed the old rules in force when the consents were granted should be applied until the end of the development.
