The Auckland Region in general, and Franklin in particular, are experiencing pressures related to the demand for business land. In order to help ensure that there is enough business land in Franklin over the next 30 years, FDC proposes to rezone land at Tuakau and Waiuku so that the land can be used for business development. The area that has been identified at Waiuku lies to the east of Waiuku, in the vicinity of Cornwall, Shakespeare, Waiuku and Collingwood Roads. The land is currently zoned Rural. The extent of the proposed land-uses is as follows:
Table 1 Waiuku proposal: approximate extent of various land uses
|
|
Industry (manufacturing, processing, assembly)
Logistics (storage and distribution)
Wholesale
|
Businesses that provide services to industry and logistics
Small-scale wholesale, logistics & industry
|
Stormwater, recreation, roads |
Future business |
Total |
| 32 hectares |
3.5 hectares |
11 hectares |
19 hectares |
65.5 hectares |
The area that has been identified at Tuakau lies to the south-east of Tuakau, in the vicinity of Bollard and Whangarata Roads; the railway line is located to the north of the proposed business area. The land is currently zoned Rural. The extent of the proposed land uses is as follows:
Table 2 Tuakau proposal: approximate extent of various land uses
|
|
Industry (manufacturing, processing, assembly)
Logistics (storage and distribution)
Wholesale
|
Businesses that provide services to industry and logistics
Small-scale wholesale, logistics & industry
|
Stormwater, recreation, roads |
Future business |
Total |
| 27 hectares |
10 hectares |
16 hectares |
27 hectares |
80 hectares |
FDC wants to be in a position to manage the location and nature of business development so that the new business areas develop into assets for the District and for the Region. In order to help achieve this, new land-management provisions have been drafted for the Franklin District Plan. It is proposed that two new business zones, namely the Industrial Zone (IZ) and the Industrial Services Zone (ISZ), will apply to both proposed business areas.
The purpose of the IZ is to provide for manufacturing, processing, assembling, storage, distribution and wholesale activities. The purpose of the ISZ is to provide for businesses that support the activities of the IZ, and also to provide for small-scale manufacturing, processing, assembling, storage, distribution and wholesale activities.
In addition to the above, the business areas should be visually appealing and should promote health and safety. Consequently, the following are addressed by the new District Plan provisions:
- external appearance of buildings
- landscaping
- “design-out-crime”
- open space network
- connections between roads, walkways and cycle ways
- efficient and safe movement of vehicles.
FDC has received submissions and further submissions in accordance with the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA). The next step in the process of rezoning the land is to hold a hearing, also in accordance with the RMA. It is anticipated that the hearing will take place in about August of this year.