The Queenstown Lakes District Council's urban boundary framework plan change may become operative on June 5, subject to full council approval at its meeting in Queenstown tomorrow.
Council senior policy analyst Jonathan Richards said in his report to the council, Plan Change 30 would introduce a policy framework for the provision of urban boundaries into the district plan, giving "statutory weight" to growth-management methods.
The plan change was publicly notified on August 19, 2009, and attracted 120 original submissions, 23 of which were in support or partial support.
A hearing was held over three days in April 2010 and evidence was presented by 10 parties, representing 68 submitters.
Recommendations from the commissioners were received in August and were adopted by the council in October 2010, before being appealed to the Environment Court.
Three appeals were received in relation to the plan change from R Monk and Cook Adamson Trustees, the Boxer Hill Trust, and Ladies Mile Partnership and others.
Additionally, there were a total of 25 Section 274 parties attached to the appeals.
The appeals were considered by the council's strategy committee in February last year and the committee resolved to authorise officers to mediate or negotiate on non-substantive matters raised by the appeals.
Non-substantive minor amendments were agreed with the Boxer Hill Trust and its eight Section 274 parties and those appeals were withdrawn on February 14 last year.
"Minor, non-substantive alterations to Plan Change 30 have also been agreed with the appellants and consent order documentation has been signed by all parties and has been filed with the Environment Court [and subsequently approved].
"As a result, all outstanding matters were resolved and thus the need for an Environment Court hearing was avoided.
"The provisions in Plan Change 30: Urban Boundary Framework can therefore now be made operative," Mr Richards' report said.
The purpose of the plan change was to establish broad, strategic frameworks for urban boundaries within the district plan which should define their purpose and principles, including the establishment of a "settlement hierarchy".
It would also provide the context for urban boundaries' administration and the introduction of boundaries for specific settlements.
One such settlement in Arrowtown, Plan Change 29: Arrowtown Boundary, was also adopted by the council in October 2010.
Last week, the Environment Court concluded its hearing into the appeal on the plan change. Judge Jon Jackson and commissioners Heather McConachy, Ken Fletcher and John Mills reserved their decision.
