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Draft Waitemata Local Board Plan 2014

This submission is on behalf of Arch Hill Residents
David Batten
Email: david@thewinefence.co.nz
Postal: 16 Potatau St, Arch Hill 1021
Phone: 021 440332
I wish to speak in support of our submission at a public hearing


Community led development of a high-quality urban environment

Arch Hill as part of wider Grey Lynn is facing urban intensification with the announcement of a Special
Housing Area on the 2km stretch of Great North Rd between Newton Rd. and Surrey Crescent.
Non-complying big box and over height apartment proposals have awakened a strong demand by the
local community to have input into a long term development strategy that is both sustainable and
liveable in both intensified and neighboring heritage dwelling spaces.
Much has been said about turning Auckland into the worlds most livable city, and speakers like Jim
Diers, brought here in 2013 by Auckland Council, have articulated a vision of community development
through engagement with local residents and businesses, which has yet to be mirrored in practical
planning decision outcomes at a Council planning level.
We support a completion of a Special Character assessment of Grey Lynn and Arch Hill
We are supportive of the creation of a community-based design panel mooted by the GLBA, to be
facilitated by the Waitemata Local Board, as a consultation conduit with the community on local
development proposals.
We would also see this panel developing a best practice design encouraging a healthy mix of
accommodation intensification integrated with small scale businesses, community facilities and public
space / amenity enablement.
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For example, the Great North Road SHA / Mixed Use zones development criteria should encompass:
- Support of quality owner-occupied residences

- Promotion of City Hop for shared vehicular access

- Parking solutions mindful of residential and local business requirements including a residents
parking zone initiative as part of a wider transport strategy to dissuade commuter parking and
promote the use of public transport region wide

- Requirement for developers to include a traffic management plan in their proposals

- Promotion of adherence to development rules under the applicable current and proposed
Unitary Plan / SHA / Terraced and Apartment zone height (ie. 14.5m) and bulk requirements

- Preference for ground floor business / amenity use vs. accommodation in apartment
developments

- Development of Great North Rd as an attractive streetscape emphasizing a tree lined boulevard
with provision for adjacent green spaces and gathering places

- With recently gained understanding of the effect apartment block developments have on the
amenity value of adjacent heritage residential communities, encouraging design mitigation of:

Heritage property residents overlooked by upper level residents

Excess shading especially on the south side of the ridge where limits of 3 and 4
storey developments should be introduced

Lack of height variation in the developmental skyline

A Great North Road lined on both sides by high rise developments turning it into
a windswept shade tunnel

Apartment resident parking in adjacent streets instead of internalised within the
development



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Connected, accessible and safe transport choices

Arch Hill Residents support the initiatives in the draft plan.
- Safe walking and cycling
- Outstanding public transport
- Quality street and road design
For Arch Hill:
- We wish to see Great North Rd developed into a route that is safe for all road users as it evolves
as a major arterial route from the city - west, with increased bus / vehicular traffic
intensification
pedestrian access and safety along and across Great North Road requires more
strategically placed pedestrian refuges and traffic islands
Road layout and traffic management optimised for children to walk or cycle safely to
school / child care / Kindergartens

- Connected cycle ways linking K Rd, Ponsonby, Great North Road through Grey Lynn to
Westmere and Herne Bay


- A walkway / cycle way linking Western Springs to Upper Queens St through the Arch Hill
Reserve joining with the Waima St over bridge, Newton Rd and Kirk St as a non-vehicular access
way to the inner city

- Implementation of a Residential Parking Zone in Arch Hill. We are over-run with commuter
parking in our narrow streets where residents and local businesses already compete


Waitemata, the innovative economic hub of Auckland

Many businesses in Arch Hill are operated from residential zoned properties and the mixed use zone
that adjoins both sides of Great North Road. We recognize that those businesses have the right to
reasonable access for both staff and customers and an appropriate quality of infrastructure befitting an
inner city location of first world stature
Arch Hill Residents support the Grey Lynn Business Association in becoming a sustainable association
supporting businesses of all sizes, but in particular the smaller innovative businesses that are prevalent
in the area.
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The natural environment is respected and enhanced

Arch Hill as a part of Grey Lynn is a champion of sustainability, recently winning awards at a world class
level.
We support the development of Community gardens and fruit tree planting in unused community
spaces
Waste Minimisation
We support the initiative to develop a locally-based Community Recycling Centre and submit that this
would sit well within Grey Lynn 2030
Protecting and enhancing the natural heritage
Development of the Arch Hill Reserve into an inner city eco system championing biodiversity and
mitigation of the negative effects of proximity to the North Western Motorway being:
- Air quality monitoring and management. Planting of trees to minimize vehicle exhaust emissions

- Sound barrier placement The Auckland Acoustic initiative has indicated that North Western
motorway noise recorded at the Newton Central School and parts of Arch Hill is over accepted
limits. The Waitemata Local Board need to work with the local Community and NZTA to facilitate
a plan and appropriate funding to mitigate this problem
Quality parks, open spaces and facilities, and strong inclusive communities

People-friendly spaces are needed throughout Grey Lynn / Arch Hill to provide attractive areas for
people of all ages to gather.
We are strongly in support of the planned upgrade of Grey Lynn Park
We endorse the upgrade of the Home St playground and look forward to planned community input
The Arch Hill Reserve green spaces are ripe for further development into open areas / informal team
sport meeting points / Mountain Bike tracks and community led cultural initiatives.
These activities bring more people hence engender more intensive use of this currently massively under-
utilised resource. Immediate added benefits include the perception of safer access for all

Thankyou for the opportunity to submit to this initiative