Tauranga City Council is accused of breaking its own rules regarding the proposal to put a large subdivision on Smith's farm, using the existing Westridge Drive for access.
It defies so many council rules and regulations that any other developer would not get away with it, states resident Kim Wood in her submission to council on the proposal to build 180-240 homes on 41.7ha of land between Takitimu Drive and Cambridge Road.
Smith's Farm from Richard's Way.
'As a resident of Westridge and also a business partner in a developing business in Tauranga, I know the council will be in violation of so many of its own rules,” Kim says in her submission.
'In my years of observing the process of applying for land development, the money and time and stress that comes with the rules and regulations that council and planners put in place, I am astounded that they have even made this approach to use Westridge as an access.
'I know that this process is going against both codes of practice making it illegal, and making up rules to get this through is so dishonest that it seems like one rule for you and one for developers,” says Kim.
'Take some of your medicine now. Stick to the rules that we have had to abide by. And if it costs you more to use other better options – welcome to our world.”
Kim is among 211 people who have presented written submissions to the city council on the proposal.
Tomorrow afternoon, 22 of them will speak to the council on their submissions.
'If this goes ahead through Westridge, I will be the first lying down in front of the diggers. So don't even go there,” says Kim.
Westridge Drive is a large section, low density semi-rural housing area. One of the possibilities being aired for Smith's Farm is that it may be a special housing area, which Westridge residents say will generate more than 2000 extra traffic movements each day and create congestion issues on Cambridge Road. The alternative route, via Richard's Way, is estimated to cost about $2.4 million.
The city council proposes to sell part of the Smiths Farm land, regardless of whether it proceeds as a Special Housing Area.
The council has already consulted on this general proposal through the 2015-25 Long Term Plan and is now taking on board the community's specific thoughts about the proposed sale of the Smiths Farm site.
Westridge residents say they were promised in 2004 by then facilities and reserves manager Geoff Canham stating in writing to residents that The end of Westridge Drive will be a cul-de-sac and no vehicle link between Westridge and Richards Way would be permitted.
15 comments
NIMBYs
Posted on 01-12-2015 18:36 | By BullShtAlert
It always amazes me that people who have built their own houses on rural residential land, thereby destroying the rural character and adding their own vehicles to the roads, then complain when neighbouring areas of land are developed into houses. Fact is that their own Westridge properties are on land that once was zoned rural. Rules were obviously changed to permit that. Bingo!
Break
Posted on 01-12-2015 18:49 | By Capt_Kaveman
Their own rules !! nothing new here, this council is just falling back into the old past councils tracks
Who is the hypocrite
Posted on 01-12-2015 20:20 | By CC8
I guess, with the certainty that it will be sold , that Mr and Mrs Wood and partners will NOT be interested in developing any property in the area? Happy to develop and subdivide and make their money anywhere else in Tauranga, but NOT IN MY BACK YARD. Whingers!! As for those that complain about not having a link to Richards Way.,,,Get over it ! Things change!!
Overit
Posted on 01-12-2015 20:30 | By overit
Stick it to em Kim. We all know how the Council works.
Adler Drive
Posted on 01-12-2015 20:53 | By narala@kinect.co.nz
We said the same about the traffic here going in one way and out the same, we will have an extra 600 cars plus what already goes thru this road, congestion up top of Ohauiti Rd, blind bend, we wish you luck Westridge, they won't listen, as the english Council Traffic co-ordinator said, this is how it is in England,so except it.!!! our subdivision has already started. The traffic has built up already and it is going to get worse. The council will not listen to you, but we wish you all the luck. Need new Mayor !!
Wonderful
Posted on 02-12-2015 08:08 | By Gigilo
Put our people in healthy homes the medical costs are killing us. So this will provide 240 homes and we need about 3000 more to release people from the absorbent rents they are paying for the hovels they are forced to live in now. Break the rules and save the children - our future.
@BullShtAlert - Totally Agree
Posted on 02-12-2015 10:18 | By Rate1
Yes - they like other area's to develop but not in their backyard. If everyone was of this opinion, then no development would happen in Tauranga. Accept the inevitable of change and live with it.
People who live in castles
Posted on 02-12-2015 10:18 | By BullShtAlert
Those living in Westridge castles which have blotted the landscape shouldn't complain when the peasants want to live in other houses near them. Perhaps the "Westies" should stop driving cars thereby reducing traffic congestion? How come its ok for them to cause traffic but not anyone new? Hypocrisy knows no bounds but don't worry as I'm sure the council cave in to the Westridged landed gentry.
Requires Road Improvement
Posted on 02-12-2015 11:38 | By Rate1
Cambridge Road will require major improvement for pavement width, intersection design at Westridge and ultimately traffic lights at SH 2/Moffat Road intersection. As this intersection is near capacity now and the extra traffic generated will require major improvements.
Rules for some - not for others!
Posted on 02-12-2015 14:42 | By Mackka
Tauranga seems to be run by developers - those on the inside - 'friends' of the council who run riot over council rules, and those poor sods - e.g. Bob Clarkson are so far on the outer that no one will listen to him - he who has more common sense than all the others put together. Why won't the council allow the low cost housing at Tauriko that Bob has been trying to get up and running for years? Is this because Mr Adams owns nearby 'Lakes' and doesn't relish the competition?
Not NIMBYs
Posted on 02-12-2015 15:23 | By s.a.mcroberts
I think many people are missing the point. Westridge is Rural Residential. Council are proposing to access Smith's farm via Westridge Drive. If Smith's Farm is kept Rural Residential most Westridge residents don't have a problem with it. It is the fact that our Rural Residential area will become de facto Residential if Smith's farm is intensively developed , because council chooses to break its own rules and allow traffic to become a nuisance in this area. Considering there are at least two other road access possibilities, Westridge residents feel that these should be fully explored. At present it looks like lip service has been paid to these. We do not see why council should save money at our expense and inconvenience. The money council is likely to make out of this land if it is intensively developed is massive. Do not kid yourself that the sections will be cheap
Facing down the diggers, really?
Posted on 02-12-2015 15:30 | By Annalist
Perhaps the good folk of Westridge need to realise that most of us have to live on roads used by many people other than those who live in our own neighbourhood. If you want to be exclusive then buy in a gated community. Otherwise don't expect Council to knock back housing opportunities in you own so special area. Last I heard, your roads were public roads. By the way, when you built your Westridge houses I never heard of any people in the surrounding area complaining that you would be driving on "their" roads.
@ mcroberts comment
Posted on 02-12-2015 16:17 | By BullShtAlert
So what if Westridge is rural residential. Once upon a time it was rural and people allowed the rural tranquilty to be replaced with rural residential not quite so tranquility. That principle being accepted it is simply an extension to allow some form of residential on Smiths Farm. Also you seem ok about Westridge residents using neighbouring roads. So why not the new residents? Westridge has public roads and is not a gated community. Anyone can use those roads. I hope the sections are expensive because that means there will be more money to repay debt. It also might keep the Westies partly happy because there might be less chance of riff raff neighbours. Interesting that you note other roads as possibilities, that sort of says it all really.
Safety
Posted on 02-12-2015 21:08 | By s.a.mcroberts
Westridge residents are not opposed to the sale of Smiths farm for development. We are opposed to the idea of around 3200 vehicles accessing and departing Westridge Drive via Cambridge Road. We live here. We know the dangers. We have seen the near misses, and there are only 80 school children or so houses here. Bulk that up to 300 households and imagine the vehicles in and out of this busy stretch of road. Add those vehicles to the currrent tailback at Tauriko every morning. Now factor in the increased road use that will eventuate with the increased shopping ddevelopments underway at both Tauriko and Bethelehem and you may begin to see why we are concerned about traffic. If this development was proposed by a private developer, there would be all sorts of hoops to jump through. We are asking for due diligence.
Magic Westridge vehicles
Posted on 03-12-2015 13:28 | By Annalist
Interesting reading the comments about increased vehicles on Westridge roads. Have those people forgotten that their own subdivision contributed vehicles to the roads in the area and that exisiting residents had to put up with that. Seems a bit hypocritical to me.
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