Council extends deadline for intensification plan change submissions

Kāpiti Coast District Council has extended the deadline for people to make submissions on a proposed plan change that would enable greater building intensification.

The new deadline is 5pm Tuesday 27 September.

District Planning Manager Jason Holland said given the significance of the plan change, and the high level of public interest, Council had decided the extend the consultation timeframe.

Mr Holland said the team was aware the proposed plan change was complex and difficult to navigate for many people. Council has set up several ways to help people understand how the proposals would affect their property and neighbourhoods:

• a free and independent ‘Friend of Submitter’ service to provide advice and guidance on making a submission
• an ePlan map of the proposed plan change and ePlan guide [PDF 3.91 MB] that walks you through how to access the online map and understand what it means for you
• a Ward by Ward summary outlining what the plan change means for your area
• the Ministry for the Environment has general advice on its website (environment.govt.nz) for understanding the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) changes that this proposed plan change enacts.

These can all be accessed on the Proposed Plan Change 2: Intensification (PC2) page on our website at kapiticoast.govt.nz/district-plan.

“We’re acutely aware there’s a lot of information to wade through, especially for people who aren’t familiar with district planning processes, so we’re trying to make it as easy and transparent as possible.

“We’ve also released an additional document that provides legal advice on the scope of the proposed plan change. This advice informed our section 32 report, which assesses how the provisions of the proposed plan change meets the objectives of the RMA.

“If anyone who has already made a submission wishes to make changes or additions to their submission before the new deadline, they can do so by contacting the District Planning team at [email protected],” Mr Holland said.

You can read both the section 32 document and the legal advice on the PC2 page.

“Remember, under the RMA you must use a prescribed form [PDF 31.55 MB] (Form 5) for submissions. Our online Have Your Say webpage takes you through the correct process or you can find the form on our website on the PC2 page. We’re aware of some Facebook comments, but unfortunately these can’t be considered as formal submissions,” Mr Holland said.

Have your say by 5pm, Tuesday 27 September online at haveyoursay.kapiticoast.govt.nz, or by emailing the completed form to [email protected], or by picking up a hard copy and returning it to Kāpiti Coast District Council, 175 Rimu Road, Paraparaumu 5032.