Kapiti Coast District Council’s consultation on draft intensification plan change 2 closes at 5pm on Monday 2 May.

The Team from Kāpiti Coast District Council

That means you’ve got the weekend to finalise your feedback and we’d love to hear from you. We have to make this plan change because of central government direction to enable more higher density housing as one way of addressing the housing shortage.

Intensification is proposed across residential zones (up to 3 dwellings of up to 3 storeys). Taller buildings would be enabled around our train stations south of the Ōtaki River, and in and around our centres. Read more about the centres-based approach on pp.9-11 of draft plan change 2. This is in line with both the national direction and our new growth strategy Te tupu pai. Here's some key things you need to know for Ōtaki:

1. For our town centres, which includes Ōtaki Main Street and Ōtaki Railway, the draft plan change proposes enabling up to 6 storeys inside those zones, and up to 4 storeys within a 400m walkable catchment of the edge of those zones.

2. “Qualifying matters” may limit the heights or densities possible on particular sites. This is explained on pp.11-12 of draft plan change 2.

3. “Special character” is not a qualifying matter so the draft plan change would remove the existing rules that restrict development density in these areas. This means their character is likely to change over time. However, we’re proposing a ‘managed change’ approach. This means where future development in these areas will require a resource consent, the notable characteristics of these areas will be considered. Read more about this on p.14 of draft plan change 2.

To find out more and have your say, go to Draft plan change 2 - Kāpiti Coast District Council (kapiticoast.govt.nz) on our website. Feedback on this ‘draft’ plan change closes at 5pm on Monday 2 May 2022, but you will have a further opportunity to have your say when we publicly notify the ‘proposed’ plan change in the middle of the year.