Flaxmere Town Centre Upgrade

The proposed plans for the upgrade of Flaxmere Town Centre have resulted from the Flaxmere Urban Design Framework.

This Urban Design Framework for Flaxmere seeks to achieve the vision of the Flaxmere Community Plan by establishing a land use planning framework for a better town centre.

The four options identified seek to enhance the town centre with regards to key principles of; Access and connectivity; Safety and vitality; Sense of Place; Diversity and Sustainability.

In progressing any option for the upgrade of the town centre, the opportunity to have a say for all, including major landowners of the town centre and key stakeholders is essential.

Proposal

After input from the Flaxmere community, the Flaxmere Ward Councillors and Council officers, the Proposed Plan for the redevelopment of the Flaxmere Town Centre has been developed to;

• incorporate the wishes of the community expressed through public workshops conducted in 2007;
• incorporate the key design principles of the Urban Design Framework identified above;
• incorporate key features from the four Framework options; and also
• take into account the aspirations of the current shopping centre owners in a way which could connect the proposed new development with the existing shopping centre.

It is proposed that the overall town centre plan will have flexibility to evolve over time and be implemented in stages.

Following consultation with the community a change to the District Plan will be prepared to implement the town centre plan. The District Plan Change will be required to go through the RMA submission and hearing process.

A Council property company is to be established to oversee and advise on the commercial aspects of the development of the Council land.

Overall Town Centre Plan

The key features of the overall town centre plan include:

1. The new supermarket and associated car park area. The supermarket
   • Provides a strong retail anchor
   • Increases activity in and visitors to, the Flaxmere town centre
   • Saves travel costs for Flaxmere residents and
   • Provides employment opportunities within the Flaxmere town centre.
2. The new road from the north to the south between the supermarket and existing shopping centre to promote access to the centre and connectivity
3. A sleeve of retail shops in the vicinity of the new supermarket on both sides of the new road
4. Existing shopping centre to be bisected by an extension of Henderson Road to link up with the new supermarket; this links up existing retail activities with the new development and promotes better connection with the shopping centre from the Flaxmere road network
5. More retail shops and commercial activities to front the new north/south road as well as the Henderson road extension
6. Low density residential development fronting Caernarvon Drive and southern part of Swansea Road
7. Residential south of the supermarket, both to the west and east sides of the Library and Water World. While this housing intends to promote a variety of living opportunities in the town centre contributing to the vitality of activity, this plan will evolve in future and there is flexibility within this area to accommodate other development options including additional commercial expansion.

Stage 1

Stage 1 involves the development of surplus land adjacent to the current Flaxmere Town Centre which is owned by the Hastings District Council (Council).

Stage 1 is based around the development of a full service supermarket as the major anchor with an associated retail sleeve and an initial development of 6 medium density residential sections.

Stage 1 also includes the construction of a new north south road linking the southern end of Swansea Road with the northern end of Swansea Road as it loops around the existing town centre.

The 6 residential houses to the west of the new supermarket are expected to create capital for infrastructural investment into the Flaxmere town centre and could provide an opportunity to promote sustainable housing in accordance with Councils strategic direction.

Quality design of site layout and the houses themselves is essential to ensure that a positive perception of medium density town centre living is created.

This could help to pave the way for future medium density residential development in and around the Flaxmere town centre and indeed other parts of the Hastings Urban area in fulfilling the objectives of Council’s LTCCP and the Heretaunga Plains Urban Design Strategy.

Consultation

The proposed plans are now available for comments and feedback. It is important that the community of Flaxmere and key stakeholders have input and provide feedback on the proposed plans before they are finalised.

Any feedback received will assist to confirm the direction and the development of draft changes to the Hastings District Plan.

Process

• Consult the community on the Proposed Town Centre Plans [May – June 2010]
• Draft associated changes to the Hastings District Plan and report to Council to approve for notification [August-September 2011]
• Statutory Notification Process Begins [September 2011 - November 2011]
  • Notify plan change for public submissions (20 working days)
  • Notify for further submissions (10 working days)
  • Prepare Hearings Report (2-3months)
  • Hearing [date to be decided and is likely to be in the period April 2011 – June 2012]
  • If no appeals, changes made operative (July - August 2012)

Please note that the dates given above are indicative and subject to change. Contact Council Officers if you have any questions.

Contact

Please contact the following if you have any questions or concerns.

Nia Belcher, Senior Environmental Policy Planner – Phone 06 8715110 extension 5391 and email: niab@hdc.govt.nz
OR
Philip McKay, Manager Environmental Policy – Phone: 06 8715110 extension 5388 and email: philipam@hdc.govt.nz