U-turn on design of inner city apartments

Developers behind a proposed apartment block in Knights Rd have done a u-turn.

The Hutt News reported a fortnight ago they had gained a Certificate of Compliance to build a six-storey, 25-metre complex with 14 units, at 30 Knights Rd, next to Lighting Direct.

Controversially, no carparks were included in the design.

A loophole in the District Plan allows inner city developments without providing offstreet parking and so consent was granted.

Central ward councillors Deborah Hislop and David Bassett were unhappy about the situation, with the latter saying he was determined to have the District Plan amended to close off the loophole.

Council chief executive Tony Stallinger last week circulated a memo to all councillors indicating the situation has now changed.

"We have received a new resource consent application for a 12-unit residential apartment complex at 30 Knights Rd," he said.

The revised building design involves a commercial tenancy on the ground floor in addition to nine car parking spaces (of which six will be internal to the building and three will be external).

"The proposed building would be comprised of four levels and would be approximately 15.2m high. The application requires resource consent as it does not comply with the earthworks, driveway proximity to an intersection and loading bay requirements of the District Plan. Furthermore, the applicant is seeking a seven year duration to implement the resource consent as opposed to the standard five years."

Officers have rejected the application citing an inadequate Environmental Impacts report.

Mr Stallinger told councillors the application did not adequately address issues involving visual amenities, character, shading, earthworks, wind and construction. He notes that a recent change to the Resource Management Act requires applicants to submit higher quality applications.