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Walking with people to become followers of Christ through relationship, example and proclamation of the truth and reality of God
Submission on a Plan Change
of the District Plan
by double clicking on file below Whangarei District Council Submission 0707.doc
Submission on a Plan Change of the District Plan
Plan Change Number 2007/69
Plan Change Name Waipu Rezoning
On behalf of Waipu Presbyterian Church
50 The Centre
Waipu 0510
Phone 4320534
email dunnznorth@xtra.co.nz
This submission is on behalf of the Deacons Court of Waipu Presbyterian Parish, the elected management committee of the parish.
The Deacons Court on behalf of Waipu Presbyterian Church opposes the specific provision listed above in relation to church land.
Our submission is that the rezoning of church land as highlighted in Planning Maps 58 and 59a indicating the rezoning of a large proportion of the churches land from Living 1 to Business 3 has been done without due consideration of the impact of the rezoning on the church as land owners or on the actual reality of present land use or possible future land use as it now stands
Our reasons for our opposition are
The proposed change includes titles occupied by church buildings that are not commercial in nature or use, now or in the likely future. These include our main church building, our Sunday School Hall, and Manse (church house). The church and hall have been on this site for 136 years and have been used for religious purposes for that time. The hall is also used extensively for community activities for which we have not charged, but have accepted donations for hireage. There is no change to these uses in the foreseeable future. Rezoning to Business 3 does not fit with present or future use.
The rezoning as indicated does not take into account our sale of the old manse and a portion of the glebe to Whangarei District Council as reserve for the historic preservation of the "old manse" as a historical building in conjunction with the Waipu Museum. We would strongly object to this historic reserve having anything else other than reserve status. Our sale of the old manse includes a large amount of good will towards the establishment of a reserve area.
Little planning or forethought has gone into the question of access to the land not used for church buildings or being sold to Whangarei District Council. This land (known as "the glebe") is on a separate tile to both the land the church and hall are situated on and the church section that is part of the car park. The church leases this section to Whangarei District Council at a peppercorn rental for community car parking. Please note, however, that this section primarily serves as our legal egress to the main titles owned by the church. At present it is not possible to develop "glebe" land as Business 3 because of the access issue. It is our understanding for Business 3 development to proceed, street access would need to be formed. Our car park section is not suitable for such street development for two reasons; a) traffic would be directed into the precinct between the church and hall and manse. This would not be a workable outcome for us as our building placements preclude further access into the glebe; b) to obtain the necessary width for street formation the Settlers Monument and possibly War Memorial situated on The Centre would have to be shifted to another site.
Because of 3. above and the lack of any present ability to develop the glebe land as Business 3 we would also raise the issue of rates on the new zone which we understand could increase by 600% at the next rates review. Waipu Presbyterian Parish is a voluntary charity organisation that pays its way through the generous donations of its members. We receive no outside funding or financial support. An increase in rates to the extent forecast would be an unfair burden on us as a voluntary charity especially if the land in question cannot be developed as a commercial/retail site.
We ask Whangarei District Council to make the decision to retain the present zoning of the land owned by Waipu Presbyterian Church.
We wish to be heard in support of our submission represented.
If others make a similar submission, we will consider presenting a joint case with them at the hearing.