Bob Clarkson continues to pin his hopes of fast-tracking the development of his Tauriko land on the back of SmartGrowth, following Tauranga City Council's latest compromise.

Council's decision to rapidly rezone land currently in the Western Bay of Plenty's current SmartGrowth Settlement Pattern means the plan moves a step closer to being finalised, set down for the next SmartGrowth meeting on November 26.

Tauranga developer Bob Clarkson. Photo: File.

The decision also calls for a 'strategic assessment” of the wider Tauriko corridor.

In turn it revitalises Bob's vision of offering discounted housing after countless years of discussion and setbacks with local authorities.

Just last month Bob's request to have his Tauriko development declared a ‘Special Housing Area' under the affordable housing accord was knocked back by TCC.

He also complained that his land on both sides of the city/district council border at Tauriko has been overlooked by the SmartGrowth settlement plan.

'I am quite happy that most of the councillors and TTC showed some guts and a bit of flexibility, and they stepped on the toes of SmartGrowth a bit,” says Bob.

'They sorted it out and everybody is back on board with a compromise.

'There is a chance we might get some discounted houses with any luck in the next few years.”

Bob promises to discount 500 of the 2000 houses planned to be built on his block behind the Tauriko Service Station by 25 per cent, delivering a house and land package for about $310,000.

Initially 200 will be built and, subject to future state highway alignment options, this will increase to the 2000 mark.

He says there is a need for forward thinking integrated land use and transport planning, but the main frustration is the time that it takes.

He adds TCC's decision is a good compromise considering it recently broke ranks with its SmartGrowth partners to look at fast-tracking development land decisions outside the partnership.

Drawing the ire of the partners, both Western Bay Mayor Ross Paterson and Bay of Plenty Regional councillor Paula Thompson spoke to council yesterday about their grave concerns of operating outside the longstanding processes.

'If we only had a system where the urban limits were a bit more flexible and SmartGrowth was more nimble we could have led New Zealand in affordable houses,” says Bob.

'This is my dream - I'm a visionary. It [the decision] leaves that open and means I can do a bit more thinking now.”