Applying for a District Plan Change

The private plan change process allows individuals or groups to request a change to the District Plan. In many cases, this will relate to a person seeking to change the District Plan zoning of their property in order to subdivide and develop their land.

Changes can only be requested to plans that are operative. Councils are able to refuse requests for two years after the date a plan has become operative.

How to apply for a plan change

Before you apply for a private plan change, we encourage you discuss your intentions with an Environmental Planner. There may be options available other than a plan change.

An application needs to be made in writing to the Council and should include the following:

• The purpose of the proposed change
• The reasons for the proposed change
• The content of the proposed change
• A Section 32 Analysis (alternatives and costs)
• An assessment of the anticipated environmental effects of the proposed change

Assessment of Environmental Effects

A request for a private plan change must include an Assessment of Environmental Effects (AEE).

This should consider the following points:

• Any effect on those in the neighbourhood and, where relevant the wider community, including any socio-economic and cultural effects
• Any physical effect on a locality, including any landscape and visual effects
• Any effect on ecosystems, including effects on plants or animals and any physical disturbance of habitats in the vicinity
• Any effect on natural and physical resources having aesthetic, recreational, scientific, historical, spiritual, or cultural, or other special value for present or future generations
• Any discharge of contaminants into the environment, including any unreasonable emission of noise, and options for the treatment and disposal of contaminants
• Any risk to the neighbourhood, the wider community, or the environment through natural hazards or the use of hazardous substances or hazardous installations

Go to the Resource Consents section for more information about AEE's.

Costs

The private plan change process can involve a significant cost. Preparing an assessment of environmental effects is likely to require the assistance of environmental professionals. The Council will also charge you for processing the application and the public notification process.
You will need to be able to support your request through a Council hearing and possibly an Environment Court hearing.

Contact

This information is only a guide to the private plan change process. For more information please contact an Environmental Planner at the Council on resource@hdc.govt.nz or phone 06 871 5000