Havelock North Village - Framework for Future Development
The coming years will see Havelock North continue to develop and grow, so it’s important to ensure this growth enhances the qualities which make the Village such an attractive and distinctive place.
Unsympathetic development can undermine the very attributes which make a community attractive in the first place. That’s why Hastings District Council has proposed a Framework to guide land use planning for the future of the Village centre. This document is just a starting point - community feedback is important as it will guide the next steps in the planning process.
Project Update - August 2009
A few changes have been made to the Framework document following the receipt of the informal submissions and open day discussions on the Framework late last year; and subsequent to further meetings with town centre / urban design professionals and Council engineers.
The changes and key objectives for the Village Centre are detailed and discussed in the report below
Community consultation on the changes was undertaken in July 2009 and a further 14 submissions of feedback were received in response.
In general, the feedback indicated that submitters supported the proposed changes, but raised concerns about the potential impacts that a new supermarket may have on the village centre and the community.
- Summary of feedback (PDF 26kB)
The Framework and latest changes will inform the next stage of the project, which is to write the draft Plan Change. After that, we will enter the formal stage of the planning process which is to publicly notify the plan change for formal submissions.
Thank you for your interest and participation in the project.
Megan Gaffaney
Environmental Planner (Policy)
Read the framework
- Summary document (PDF 4MB)
- Havelock North Village Framework for Future Development (PDF 5.6MB)
- Project process outline (PDF 142kB)
You can also view paper copies of the framework at the Havelock North Library or the Hastings District Council administration building in Lyndon Road East, Hastings
Public Feedback
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Thank you very much to everyone who participated in the community meetings and open day back in November; it makes this process so worthwhile.
The public meetings held on the 12th November were the first opportunity for us to share with you the Framework for Future Development, with 53 Havelock North residents attending.
Our presentations - about half an hour long, were out-shone by the discussion initiated by the community at both meetings – of which each lasted an hour and a half.
The public meetings were followed by a very well attended Open Day on 27th November, where the Havelock North Community Centre became a hub of activity and discussion about the future of the Village Centre.
We were overwhelmed by the number of people who arrived at the opening, and had to call for more Council planning staff to ensure that everyone was able to find out more about the Framework and to discuss their ideas and issues with staff. This level of activity continued all day, with people using their time to write their submission – and post-it notes!
The main topics raised in the feedback were about:
- Connections / Pedestrian links
- Village character and landscaping
- Parking & Traffic
- Urban Design
- District Plan – height of buildings, mixed use, building setbacks
- Design Guidelines
- Development sites – particularly St Columbas site and top of Joll Road
For a detailed look at everyone's feedback please read the
- Summary of Feedback (PDF 88kB)
FAQs
What is an urban design framework?
A team of designers works with the community, including landowners, community groups, and business owners, to create a plan of how the town centre could be in the future.
The team looks at how a place can be developed in a coordinated and cohesive way, planning a look and feel which reflects the area’s community and special character. It also takes into account the context of the place in the wider area.
The proposed Havelock North Village Centre: Framework for Future Development is a consultation document. The document and feedback received on it, will guide future changes to the District Plan and other projects. It is the District Plan that sets out the rules for controlling land use (including building size, location and use) and subdivision.
What prompted the project?
The project was set up after concerns were expressed by the community about:
- the need for an overall vision for the future of the Village Centre
- sustained commercial development pressure together with a shortage of available commercial land
- the effect of development pressure on Havelock North’s special character
- the need for building design controls to manage the scale and appearance of new buildings as had been recommended in the 2002 Havelock North Planning and Design study.
How can this work benefit the community?
The framework document will enable a comprehensive and strategic approach to the development of the Village Centre. It is a consultation document that outlines issues, ideas and recommendations that you will be able to express your views on.
How can I be involved?
Come along to one of the community meetings (details on reverse). If you want to be further involved in the project, Megan Gaffaney, Council Planner, can meet with you to discuss it in more detail. Please contact her on 878 0500 or e-mail her on megang@hdc.govt.nz
How will my feedback be used?
Your feedback will assist in determining what aspects of the Framework will contribute to the future planning for the Village Centre and more specifically to possible District Plan changes and other projects.
Why have I only heard about this project now?
In 2002, a Planning and Design Study was done (which resulted in the streetscape improvements we see today). Extensive community consultation was undertaken to find out what the community valued about the Village, and that feedback was the basis to this project.
More recently we had more focussed discussion with a smaller group of people who represented different sectors of the community, including key landowners, residents and interest groups to update on the issues. This also contributed to the preparation of the framework.
Once we were comfortable that the framework document was good enough, it had to be approved by Council before it is able to be used as a basis for community consultation.
Who did you initially consult when you were developing the framework?
We worked with a targeted group of people who represented different sectors of the community, including key landowners, residents and interest groups, including representatives of:
- Havelock North Business Association
- Havelock North Concerned Citizens Group
- Sustaining Hawke’s Bay
- Havelock North Primary School
- St Lukes Church
- St Columbas Presbyterian Church
Is this my only chance to comment on the future planning of the Village Centre?
No. There will be 2 - 3 more opportunities to give your feedback on the future planning of the Village. This will culminate in formal submissions to proposed District Plan changes. See Stages 4 and 5 of the process diagram.
Will my comments really count?
Yes we are interested to know your views and if we don’t know them we can’t consider them. We will also be looking for common themes within the feedback where by similar messages are being said by the community.
Why are you doing this project when the streetscape works have already been done?
This project has a different focus. The 2002 project focussed on improving the public spaces in the Village.
This project is focussed on improving the private realm, i.e. the buildings; the land uses and the diversity of commercial activity in the Village.
What is ‘mixed use’ development?
Development projects that combine different type of uses (including both residential and non-residential) are referred to as ‘mixed use’ developments. In the context of the proposed framework it is generally describing commercial (which could be retail, office, café or service industrial depending on the location within the village centre) at ground floor / 1st floor level and residential apartments above.
Why would ‘mixed use’ development benefit the Village?
When done well, a mixed-use development, especially if it includes a residential component, can be beneficial to both occupants as well as to the wider community.
It may have a number of economic and social advantages over single use development such as:
- meeting increased demand for accommodation within or close to town centre amenities/services;
- intensifying town centres and reducing sprawl;
- creating more viable public transport options and reducing car dependancy;
- creating vibrant street life;
- increasing demand/support for local businesses;
- creating safer environments by combining activities at different times of the day.
Why would we want residential living in the Village Centre?
Enabling residential living in the Village Centre is about providing another lifestyle option. People’s housing needs change over time and living in the Village Centre maybe a lifestyle that suits some people for their stage of life.
It is also a means of providing more housing without using up more horticultural land and in this way it should help protect the Heretaunga Plains from urbanisation; protect Havelock’s surrounding residential area from infill housing; and protect the slopes of Te Mata Peak from more housing detracting from its landscape character.
What are the benefits of good urban design?
A town that is planned well can benefit economically, socially and environmentally. Good Urban design can deliver a better quality of life.
By making streets safer, better connected and more attractive, good urban design can create more walkable places. Walkable places can generate more custom for business and reduce environmental costs.
Poor design can have significant adverse effects on the urban environment, community and economy.
Contact
For more information contact Megan Gaffaney on 06 871 5000 or email megang@hdc.govt.nz
