Glenpanel Development Ltd’s (GDL) housing development at Frankton-Ladies Mile Highway failed to gain fast-track resource consent on its first attempt in 2022, but it has just been approved on its second attempt.
An independent panel signed off on stage one of the 15.49ha residential development, known as Flint’s Park (Ladies Mile — Te Pūtahi) on August 9, subject to conditions.
The application was for subdivision, land use and discharge consents for a proposed residential development, comprising 370 residential units, a mixed-use homestead precinct (Glenpanel Homestead) for commercial use, and associated earthworks and infrastructure including public open spaces, roads and Three Waters services.
The application for stage 1 also deals with the medium density precinct and homestead precinct below the Slope Hill boundary.
The panel’s report recognised the positive effects of the proposal, especially in relation to the provision of much-needed affordable housing, but said the panel had "considerable concerns" throughout the process.
The panel’s key concerns related to cultural effects related to integration and stormwater management; transport and SH6 access issues; and urban design, layout, staging and development.
"The panel ... was moving to decline the application, but as summarised above, ultimately the panel’s concerns were addressed by the applicant and by the panel limiting the scope of the consents granted — the removal of the land use consent to construct dwellings on the end-use lots," the report said.
"That enabled the panel to find that the adverse effects of the proposal were no more than minor (with conditions) and that the activities will not be contrary to the relevant objectives and policies of the relevant planning documents."
GDL director Mark Tylden was unavailable for comment yesterday, but previously told the Otago Daily Times it was important to reapply for the consent because shortages were driving up housing costs, which was making it difficult to recruit and retain staff in Queenstown.
The Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust has more than 1160 households on its waiting list for housing, and the median house price for the area is more than $1.6 million.
The development had the opportunity to provide solutions to the area’s housing problems, Mr Tylden said.
It would offer a range of housing in a range of budgets.
"We are committed to building houses for first-home buyers so we can help people who want to live and work in Queenstown get on the housing ladder.
"We run the risk of only providing homes for wealthy people who find they have to travel out of the area for services because service providers cannot afford to live here."
The first application was rejected due to its "adverse landscape and visual effects", plus concerns over creating more traffic on Ladies Mile.
However, late last year, the Environmental Protection Authority determined the second application complied with the requirements set out in the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act, and it was resubmitted to the panel.
