Plan Change 33 (Enabling Housing Supply) to the Operative Tauranga City Plan implements the Intensification Planning Instrument required under section 80E of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) by incorporating the Medium Density Residential Standards and giving effect to policies 3 and 4 of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development 2020 (with related provisions).
On 20 May 2024, the Council rejected two recommendations of the Independent Hearings Panel and made alternative recommendations as follows:
- Matter A – as set out in the table below (in substitute for the notified heights and zoning for Mount Maunganui North)
- Matter B – retain a height limit of 16 metres in Area F in the City Centre Zone (in substitute for the recommendation below)
On 27 June 2024, the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform made the following decisions under clause 105 of Schedule 1 of the RMA:
Accepted Recommendation
Matter A
Tauranga City Council’s Recommendation:
a. Upzone and increase the notified height from MDRS (11 metres plus 1 metre) to 22 metres for the residential land within 400 metres walkable catchment of the town centre, and 16 metres for the residential land within 400-800 metres walkable catchment of the town centre.
b. Increase the notified permitted activity height limit from 12 metres to 22 metres within the commercial centre.
Reasons for Accepting
Council’s alternative recommendation would better give effect to the National Policy Statement on Urban Development, by providing greater development capacity and enabling the Mount Maunganui North area to change over time in response to the diverse and changing needs of people, communities, and future generations while enabling management of identified cultural landscape, coastal environment, natural character, outstanding natural features and landscape values.
Matter B
Independent Hearing Panel’s Recommendation:
Remove the 16-metre permitted activity height limit over Area F in the City Centre Zone and make consequential changes to the maps in Chapter 17 and relevant provisions of the Tauranga City Plan.
Reasons for Accepting
I consider the Independent Hearing Panel’s recommendation would better give effect to the National Policy Statement on Urban Development, would better achieve a well-functioning urban environment, and better enable as much development capacity as possible. I consider the proposed 16-metre height limit, together with the proposed policies and matters of discretion relating Area F would not enable as much development capacity as possible in the City Centre Zone.
Where to view the decisions
The Tauranga City Plan as updated to incorporate the operative provisions of Plan Change 33, the associated Independent Hearings Panel recommendations, and Council’s decision including the two recommendations that have been rejected (with reasons and alternative recommendations) and the Minister’s decision on the rejected recommendations can be viewed at the following:
- Tauranga City Council’s website
- Customer Service Centre, He Puna Manawa, 21 Devonport Road, Tauranga
- Tauranga libraries (Greerton, Papamoa and Mount Maunganui)