Portfolio Report: Heritage and Planning (originally submitted 5 Mar 2020)

I keep track of resource consent applications for buildings, structures, and tree pruning andremoval 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, 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 by the building of transport and energy infrastructure that reduces congestion and locks in lower carbon emissions in the future. Where trees are removed current policy is to plant substantially more than are removed.

Heritage, Urban Design and Planning covers a mix of regulatory and non-regulatory activities including city planning and growth, heritage protection, urban design requirements, Local Board resource consent application input, and bylaw development, including advocacy to achieve local priorities relating to heritage preservation, good urban design and spatial planning. Regulatory and policy oversight of local liquor licensing that may sit in this portfolio is currently looked after by the board chair as the lead on the Communities portfolio.

Resource Consents
5-7 Albert Street, Auckland
The proposal includes a slender 36 storey, approximately 159 metre high tower with a stepped top section. It sits within the cluster of existing and planned tall buildings at the ‘Engine Room’ of the CBD in the Queen Street valley. This is consistent with city form policy H8.3(30)(c) to respect the valley and ridgeline form of the city centre with the height and form of new buildings, and that effect can be seen in figure 2.5. It appears it would be the tallest building in the CBD outside the Sky Tower.

The immediate local context of Wolfe Street includes the 14 storey building at the corner of Wolfe and Albert Streets that is built to the edge of Albert Street and set back from Wolfe Street; a currently vacant three storey character building at mid-block along Wolfe Street; and a six storey building which defines the corner of Wolfe and Federal Streets across from the site of this proposal. The proposal suggests:
• The existing street character is maintained by retaining the Yates heritage building
and the Berry and Hopkins character buildings, and building the podium along Wolfe Street to
a height similar to the building that previously occupied the corner of Wolfe and Federal
streets;
• the podium created by these smaller buildings establishes a scale transition at the
base of the tower and a comfortable relationship to the buildings on Wolfe Street; and
• the podium continues to strongly define the edge of Wolfe Street.

The Heritage value of the site has been considered with seismic strengthening of the heritage buildings and the opening up of their use. The tower is set back to allow the street frontage to be at a human scale. It is a well-considered and exciting project and fits into the general goals of the unitary plan but there are a number of breaches, including a request for higher noise levels than are currently permitted during construction. Due to these aspects I have asked for public notification.

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.

1 Greys Avenue Auckland Central Auckland 101
TRE60353169
Tree Consent Application
This application is for the works within the root zone of four Scheduled Notable Tulip trees within the road reserve along Mayoral Drive. The work is required as part of the electricity network reconfiguration. Three joint bay excavations within the root zone of these trees are required in order undertake the works necessary. The trees will be retained and the application information includes an Arboricultural report that has a protection methodology to manage the works.

28-38 Stanley Street Parnell Auckland 1010
LUC60353221
Project Board
I queried what was involved here and was informed that the application has been returned for lack of information.

401-403 Parnell Road Parnell Auckland 1052
LUC60353742
The Applicant seeks consent to undertake comprehensive development of the subject site involving the partial demolition of the existing Character Supporting building and the construction of a six-storey mixed-use building, comprising retail activities on the ground floor and five apartment units on the upper floors. This is a heritage area of low rise buildings. I queried and discovered this application has been withdrawn for the meanwhile.

17 Laurie Ave, Parnell
SUB60352440
Report promised but not received by report deadline.
22-28 Customs Street East Auckland Central Auckland 1010
LUC60353697
LUC60353726
Changes to a heritage building and Installation of a mural onto the Commerce Street facade of the heritage Excelsior House Building. I have asked for more information on this and waiting to hear.

52 Hepburn Street Freemans Bay Auckland 1011
TRE60351945
Healthy Waters - Picton Street: Remove one Liquidambar tree to enable a Gross Pollutant Trap to be installed within new stormwater infrastructure. I queried this as a couple of other trees were being removed nearby on Wellington Street also and I wondered if the work could be done in a different spot without a tree. The commissioner decided it could proceed on a non-notified basis. The amenity value of the tree was minor it was argued as six new trees would be planted and it would allow work at an optimum site to improve quality of water going into the harbour.

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. This board would face onto Cook Street and I have asked for more information to insure impact on residents are slight.

350 Point Chevalier Road
BUN60353649
Restoration of a 1920s shop that had since been converted into a family home with the loss of the extensions to return it to its original state as a commercial unit, while also adding four townhouses behind. This is not my geographical area but it is an interesting project.