Portfolio Report: Heritage and Planning (originally submitted 24th April)

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 reduces congestion and locks in lower carbon emissions in the future. Where trees are removed our position is that there should be more trees planted than are removed. 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.

Covid-19 and Housing

Emergency housing has been offered to the homeless during covid-19 and the great majority have taken this offer up. The Kainga Ora development in Grey’s Ave will continue construction at level 3. There is a deep desire from the local board that the covid-19 response will make secure quality accessible housing more widespread and not less and this is one of our priority advocacy issues.

Resource Consent

19 King Street Grey Lynn Auckland 1021
TRE60352982
The works propose the removal of protected trees, unprotected vegetation and shrubs and works within the rootzone of protected trees, including level changes. I have asked for more information and await a reply.

17 Laurie Ave, Parnell
SUB60352440
Unit Title subdivision of a new dwelling, including 2 PUs and 8 AUs on a single house zone.
Report promised but was not received by report deadline (again).

57 St Georges Bay Road Parnell Auckland 1052
SUB60351443
LUC60351442
This resource consent was presented as a construction of five new dwellings and associated earthworks on a MHU vacant site with a five residential lot plus one JOAL subdivision (6 lot) to follow.
It appears this is not a vacant site but a site on which stands a 150-year-old heritage villa that various community members are trying to register as heritage.
I got the response below from the consenting team:
“The ‘title’ is misleading as the proposal does involve the demolishment of the existing
buildings and replaced by five townhouses. In principal, the latter is envisaged by the Unitary Plan.
In terms of processing we have received correspondence that forms part of our
considerations.
In terms of the villa, it is not scheduled under the AUP (OP) and its removal and / or
demolition can be carried out as of right. Given its age (pre-1900), authority from Heritage New Zealand will be needed. This is administered under separate legalisation.
The consent itself is also a Restricted Discretionary Activity with consents required covering 5 dwellings, a non-compliance to height in relation to boundary, land disturbance, transport, vegetation alteration and subdivision.
During the processing of the application, there was a nomination put forward for it to be
scheduled. This was subsequently withdrawn.
We are in the process of finalising the application.
My response was as follows:
We have asked for triggers with regard heritage – to call a site vacant when there is a
heritage house on the site is more than misleading. The demolition of a heritage building
should have been directly brought to the local board’s attention. This is just one of the issues here:
1. This is a very old and fine example of a heritage building with a good deal of history
attached to it.
2. There is a heritage overlay in this area and heritage is of a good deal of importance
to people in Parnell and is part of the character and value of Parnell as Auckland’s
oldest suburb.
3. There is non-compliance with regard land disturbance, ground coverage, height to
boundary, transport, vegetation alteration and subdivision.

It is the view of the Waitemata Local Board that the unitary plan is there to guide
developments and sets boundaries for what can and can’t be done. Exceptions can be made where the positives outweigh the negatives. This does not seem to be the case here. The errors in the process here, are the sort to infuriate communities and damage trust in the council.
I have asked to be kept informed on what happens next and have recommended public
notification. While intensification is encouraged in the plan, a balance needs to be struck with appropriate heritage protection, and proper process should be followed, not got around. The development is on the edge of Alberton Park and this is what is proposed:

22-28 Customs Street East Auckland Central Auckland 1010
LUC60353697
LUC60353726
Two separate applications, by Tattico Limited on behalf of Cooper & Company (“the applicant”) have been received by the Council for the same site and both applications relate to the same western façade of the Excelsior House Building which occupies the site at 22-28 Customs Street East, corner of Customs Street East and Commerce Street. The Excelsior House Building is scheduled Category B under the Auckland Unitary Plan – Operative in Part, excluding the interior. The building is registered with the Heritage New Zealand (HNZ) as a Category II heritage item.
Application LUC60353697 proposes the installation of a mural by artist Shane Cotton and is envisaged as a public artwork. The proposed work comprises a collection of differently shaped pots arranged and painted over the entire surface of the western façade. Each pot is proposed to feature a range of different elements, including the name of different Maunga that have been important to the artist in both his whakapapa and in his life. The pots refer to a number of things. Vessels similar to these were used by early European explorers on their travels, and to transport exotic trees and other possessions to Aotearoa. They were also depicted in some of the first Wharenui painted by 19th Century Maori artists who had adopted European painting techniques. Hence, the pots are also a representation of cross- cultural exchange. This permanent work of art is being installed in conjunction with the largest exhibition of contemporary Maori art in a generation. Called “Toi Tū Toi Ora”, the exhibition will open in the Auckland Art Gallery in March 2021 and at satellite exhibition locations, the Britomart Precinct being one of those locations.
Application LUC60353726 relates to the applicant’s intention to install a new door and
signage on the western façade along the Commerce Street frontage of the heritage building. It is proposed to replace the existing red wooden door with a new glass pivot door. A separate metal signage board mounted to the masonry wall adjacent to the new door is also proposed. The metal signage plate is proposed to contain either single text, or text that is integrated into the metal plate. In addition, the signage displayed on the metal plate is proposed to be fixed to the masonry wall, with concealed fixings. In a letter dated 3 February 2020 Heritage New Zealand has given its written approval for the proposal. The trust advise that as the current entry and door is not of heritage significance and the new design is suitably restrained so that it does not compete with the heritage features of the building, the proposed change to new doors and the recessed entry threshold incorporating signage is supported.

1-4/61-87 Cook Street Auckland Central Auckland 1010
LUC60353604
Replace an existing wall-mounted static billboard on the southern facade of the building with a 6.5m wide by 6m high digital billboard. The proposal is to replace an existing wall-mounted static, illuminated billboard situated on the southern façade of the building at the corner of Cook and Nelson Streets, with a new wall-mounted digital display billboard of the same dimensions. The existing associated support lighting structure would be removed. I have asked what the effects may be on existing or planned residential buildings. The applicants have put this application on hold indefinitely.
117 Quay Street Auckland Central Auckland 1010
CST60354639
To erect a structure occupying the coastal marine area involving displaying the fully rigged NZL60 winning yacht from the 2000 Americas Cup. This will be quite exciting to see.

ROAD Quay Street Auckland Central Auckland 1010
CST60354750
LUC60354751
The proposal is for the construction of a new stormwater outfall within the Quay Street road reserve and through the existing sea wall, between Queens and Marsden Wharfs in the vicinity of the Quay and Commerce Street intersections. This will be a good outcome but will mean some construction activity; and noise and vibration associated with construction.

187-189 Queen Street Auckland Central Auckland 1010
LUC60355384
There will be internal fit out works to the fourth and sixth floors of a heritage building (the
Auckland Electric Board Building). Details have been requested.

18 William Denny Avenue Westmere Auckland 1022
LUC60355470
SUB60355471
The applicant seeks a combined land use (LUC) and subdivision (SUB) Resource Consent
to construct two new dwellings on the site at No. 18 William Denny Avenue, Westmere. The existing dwelling will be retained in its current location, therefore resulting in a total of three dwellings on the site on completion. A freehold title is proposed around each as part of the subdivision component. I have queried the application to ensure that the subdivision is possible with the available land and am waiting to hear.

314-390 Khyber Pass Road Newmarket Auckland 1023
LUC60355496
WAT60355497
Auckland Council Healthy Waters (ACHW) is proposing to install a new stormwater
connection between the UoA Khyber Pass site and the existing David Crescent stormwater tunnel on Kingdon Street in Newmarket. The proposed works are required to address current flooding issues on the UoA site, by providing additional capacity that will be able to convey the 100 year Annual Recurrence Interval (ARI) to the existing stormwater network on Kingdon Street.

154-174 Beach Road Auckland Central Auckland 1010
LUC60355487
NZTA have purchased three adjoining parcels of land on Beach Road which they intend to be used for future road widening. All the buildings and structures on site are to be
demolished. The road widening is not likely to happen for another 15-20 years and they
intend to use the space as a carpark in the interim.