Portfolio Report: Heritage and Planning 

I keep track of resource consent applications for buildings, structures, and tree pruning and removal as they are received by Council, requesting further information, plans and Assessments of Environmental Effects for applications of interest. Significant applications are referred to the relevant residents’ associations for their input which I then relay to planners as part of the Local Board’s input.  I particularly keep a look out for tree removals, helicopter pad requests, digital billboards facing residential buildings, impact on heritage buildings and place and more than minor breaches of the unitary plan. The Waitemata Local Board recognises the amenity value of trees and has adopted the Nga Here Urban Forest Strategy. Where it is possible to keep trees we advocate for them. Sometimes trees may be removed for the building of transport and energy infrastructure that locks in lower carbon emissions in the future. Where trees are removed our position is that there should be more trees planted than are lost. Good urban design and spatial planning can make a huge difference to the quality of a neighbourhood. Considering new developments through a climate change lens is also necessary. The council has committed to halving emissions by 2030 which will impact decision-making across all departments.

Resource Consents (of interest)

401-3 Parnell Road

The WLB asked for this application to be publicly notified as the height of the building is substantially higher than what is allowed for in the unitary plan. This happened with comments closing in August. The building itself is attractive, upscale and keeps the heritage façade. It is six storeys high with a good ceiling height in the apartments. They would certainly be nice to live in. Our view was that the building is significantly different to what may be expected in Parnell Village and so the community should have their say and their views be taken into account. 

67A Marine Parade Herne Bay Auckland    1011 

CST60361511

Construct a new jetty. Advice from staff: Public access is not limited to foot access It also encompasses access via small crafts etc. For most boat sheds and associated ramps/jetties the issue is the same. They limit pedestrian access for a short space of time. Usually they design it such that pedestrians can walk under it or around it. 10m as proposed in this instance is not a too large distance and at low tide there would be a wider intertidal area to walk across. The applicant would have a construction, occupation and use consent for the structure but they cannot limit the general public from accessing or using the structure. They will not have exclusive right."

35 Graham St

LUC60361799

There is proposed a very large building to incorporate the heritage building on 35 Graham Street. It is not compliant with regards floor to footprint ratio and the design does seem to diminish the heritage. The goals of the building are to provide a combination of public space, co-working space and offices. We have asked for full notification as the building will make a substantial impact on the environment and it is important that people have a chance to have their say on what is proposed. It is disappointing to see limited provision for landscaping, outdoor space, and climate resilient features. These buildings are longterm projects and it would be a shame to see quality compromised.

Part Level 1/149-159 Quay Street Auckland Central Auckland    1010

CST60361582

Upgrading existing telecommunications facilities. I have asked for more information on this but have not heard anything at this stage. The WLB view is that such facilities are discreet and do not reduce the visual amenity of the street.

111 Newton Road Eden Terrace Auckland    1010

LUC60361667

Erection of free standing LED billboard. In this case there do not seem to be many residents nearby who will be affected by the billboard.

17 Kingsley Street, Westmere, Auckland 

LUC60356161

This is a historic cottage and appears in Schedule 14.1 of the Auckland Unitary Plan (operative in part) as a Category A place being part of a group of five former State Houses built between 1914 and 1915 between 17 and 25 Kingsley Street (ID 02619). The Council Heritage Evaluation notes that heritage significance is associated with a mix of tangible and intangible values including:

 the Workers’ Dwelling Act 1910;

 an important political and social idea in New Zealand during the turn of the

twentieth century;

 the first public housing to be planned and designed entirely by the state’s

“Housing Expert”, Woburn Temple;

 central government’s policies on housing for workers, including the social

philosophies of the day, which informed the design, layout, construction

and location of the houses;

 assist in understanding the roots of New Zealand’s state housing program

that has continued almost uninterrupted for over 100 years.

The proposed modification to 17 Kingsley Street will not impact upon the association

The changes to the proposal made in conjunction with Auckland Council heritage specialists are really welcome. The plan seems to balance well the public interest in maintaining heritage and today’s needs. We supported the proposal.

65 Hamilton Road Herne Bay Auckland    1011

LUC60362027

The construction of a residential apartment building and associated earthworks on a residential zoned site. While the plans seem reasonable, we have asked whether it is possible to encourage the developer to sell the existing villa and/or to resource the native timber within it.

1 Greys Avenue AUCKLAND CENTRAL 1010

LUC60362181

Additions and alterations to east and west façades of the ground and mezzanine floors of the scheduled historic Civic Administration Building. The applicant is proposing alterations to the façade of the Civic Administration Building at the mezzanine and ground levels, to provide for future food and beverage commercial use. There have been numerous resource consents already granted for the site, however the detailed design for this aspect of the proposal had never reached a stage where it was able to be considered as part of earlier applications. The façade alterations are proposed to follow closely the rhythm and design that has been approved for the façade on levels above. While we approve the adaptation of heritage buildings so that they can continue to be used we are a little concerned that the style of window and door frames are considerably fatter than the heritage ones and we feel this removes much of their elegance and intrinsic heritage quality. We have requested that the window frames match the ones in the floors above and that the term of the sale be complied with.

Beach Road Temporary Bus Depot

LUC60361928

Resource consent is sought to establish a temporary bus depot on this site for a 20 year duration, with this depot supported by an ancillary office building and staff carparking. As part of this proposal, parking for 43 buses and 31 ancillary parking spaces, the construction of a new office building, and the construction of infrastructure connections associated with the bus depot are proposed. Consent is required as the proposal is an activity not provided for in the Business City Centre Zone, and the proposed on-site parking arrangements will result in infringements to the AUP (OP)’s transport standards in relation to the number of parking spaces and the use and development of the existing vehicle crossings and access. The works are also located in a floodplain. Consent is also sought for the office building’s infringement to the AUP (OP)’s frontage height and floor-to-floor height control, and further information will be sought in relation to this office building and its height/appearance within the site. The applicant has also provided an assessment to confirm that any discharge associated with the works will occur as a permitted activity.

There may be good reasons to have a bus depot on the site but it is likely to have an impact on the area. There is a good deal of community interest in this application. While it is a temporary measure, there is precedent for temporary measures to last longer than anticipated. As a result we have recommended full public notification. 

118 Carlton Gore Road Newmarket Auckland    1023

LUC60363018

WAT60363019

Construction of a co-living build-to-rent residential development at 118-120 Carlton Gore Road. This exciting development in Newmarket also demonstrates what could be the future of flatting. Rooms are ensuite with their own small kitchens so one can have one’s own space but there are also lots of shared spaces at the ground floor and top floor level to find some company. This sort of living was very common in cities for twenty-somethings a hundred years ago and it is rather fab to see it making a come back with a fresh modern twist.

Lvl 2 2-3/ 283 Karangahape Road Auckland Central Auckland    1010

LUC60363044

Erect a new 6m x 3m digital billboard at 283 KRoad, Auckland Central. It is proposed that the billboard is placed in front of windows of Samoa House which is a heritage building and architecturally very interesting. We are uncertain whether the placement of the billboard is ideal and council officers are working with the applicants to find a better solution.

Level 8+/87-89 Albert Street Auckland Central Auckland    1010

LUC60363062

The proposal involves the refurbishment of the buildings at 87 Albert Street, 40 Federal Street and 16 Kingston Street to amalgamate the buildings on the lower levels for commercial use, and a new eatery area, providing access through from Albert Street to Federal Street and Kingston Street. The works include internal alterations, an addition to the Albert Street building frontage to extend the ground floor to the street edge and provide a reconfigured front entrance and street veranda. A rooftop structure is proposed around the edge of the top of the building as an architectural top to the building. Signage is proposed for all buildings. One of the signs is proposed to be digital, displaying options for the eatery inside. The proposal results in the removal of 7 parking spaces from the basement levels. Consent is required as a discretionary activity. In theory this sounds great but I would like to see the plans to get an idea of whether the rooftop is open to people, and also more information on the digital signage. Noise and light pollution is an ongoing stressor for residents and getting the balance between a vibrant and livable city is always a concern of the local board.