The North Three Parks zone change needs one final tick from the Queenstown Lakes District Council strategy committee next week before it is notified for public submissions.
The change seeks to rezone 46.8ha of privately owned rural general land near the Wanaka Golf Course and Ballantyne Rd to provide for part of the site for the Wanaka's new sports facilities as well as low and medium-density residential housing, visitor accommodation and business activities.
Paterson Pitts planner Duncan White said this week the new zone provided for up to 10 residential units per hectare in low-density areas, "which is similar to what we are getting in newer subdivisions in Wanaka".
In medium-density areas, up to 25 residences per hectare could be possible.
"These would likely to be attached houses or duplexes, two or three storeys high," Mr White said.
A linear reserve along the golf course boundary and a park are among other features planned.
The urban design framework was finalised at the end of last month and the zone change was approved by the Wanaka Community Board last Tuesday.
The North Three Parks zone will integrate the approved Three Parks staged development being undertaken by Allan Dippie's company, Willowridge Developments, and the existing urban edge of town.
Three Parks hosts the remainder of the new sports facilities development.
Board member Mike O'Connor said at Tuesday's board meeting the plans were "exciting and starting to look good".
"If it is possible to take more land for sports, then we should have it in here as a consideration," he said.
Senior policy analyst Sue Mavor said more land could be made available for sports facilities so long as collector roads did not have to be moved more than 30m from the planned routes.
Work began on the North Three Parks zone change in 2010.
Earlier rounds of public consultation for the Wanaka Structure Plan (2007) had already identified the land as suitable for residential development.
A 2010 dwelling capacity model shows there was already enough residential zoned land available in Wanaka for the next 15-20 years.
However, Mrs Mavor said there were sensible reasons to rezone the land now, such as providing for zones not widely available, keeping ahead of demand and providing more affordable housing.
The plan change would be staged to ensure there was not an over supply of housing.
The main landowner in the North Three Parks zone is Ballantyne Investments Ltd, whose directors are Bill Haig and Neil Matchett.
Mrs Mavor said Ballantyne Investments had consulted four neighbouring landowners regarding the inclusion of their properties in the zone.
Three had agreed to support the plan and one had not yet indicated support or opposition.
