Zoe Moffatt
Gisborne residents have spoken out against a six dwelling development mooted for the corner of Howey and Goode streets, saying the ambience of the area will be altered irreversibly.
The application seeks to develop six dwellings with three or four bedrooms in two rows, with common access proposed in the middle, accessible via Goode Street.
Residents voiced their objections, which include concern about the additional traffic, footpaths, poor road construction, tree removal, and out of character design.
At a council meeting on September 13, one resident referenced the change in ambiance following the removal of oak trees.
“Previously the whole area would be enclosed in beautiful oak trees, and they’ve been taken down to allow for this development,” the resident said.
“From our point of view it is very destructive to the ambiance that we have around here, but more widely there are a huge number of units planned for this particular block and for other areas.
“I think the council needs to give quite a lot of thought to what they want the area to look like in the end.”
A submitter representing the developer said plans for the site responds to the delivery of affordable housing, and its position in the town may reduce residents’ reliance on cars.
“The proposal delivers a range of housing close to the township centre within 100 metres of Gisborne Primary School, St Brigid’s Primary School Gisborne and the UL Daily [Nature] Reserve,” he said.
“The site is a budding town centre… so the ability for a resident to maybe not have a car, or not rely on a car to access should be considered.
“We’ve already got an undertaking under consideration about installing the footpaths… so that’s already been dealt with.
“[We] would argue that the net result will be a significant improvement and benefit to the local community, especially in the housing availability, and affordability crisis.”
Council will consider the submissions at the next planning delegated committee meeting on October 11, 2023.
