There is a good précis by Andrew Campbell on SunLive (11 Nov.) as to what has gone on here with Variation 6 relating to Tauranga City Plan (Highrise development parking in the City Centre Zone). Here is what I basically had to say (in part) in my submission in opposition at the recent Plan Variation hearing: -
'It is insane for TCC to permit developers to decide how many on-site carparks they require (self governance) they will only take into account what tenants want and will have no regard for the position of public generally.
It is like letting mice into the cheese factory. This Variation is inextricably linked with the commercialisation of the Waterfront and the parking problems and traffic problems in the area will be exacerbated.
Under the current rules, parking shortfalls result in impact fees and that is fair but at least Council should be putting these funds toward parking facilities although they are not!
If a University Campus goes ahead in Durham Street the parking position will become intolerable and I believe this Variation is to some extent aimed at that facility and massive shortfalls in parking will go through the roof. These things have all been through the whole 2010 City 10-Year Plan process, ticked off by the Hearings Committee, recommended to full Council who have adopted and approved this part of the City Plan within the last 12 months or so and yet here we are turning parking on its head via the back door. Frankly I despair of the whole furtive process, the time wasted to date and with the Council and Council staff cavalier attitudes to the new TCC Plan rules only just finalised”.
That the Council appointed Hearings Commissioner was prepared to believe the Council staff claptrap and to say the variation effects will be minor is mind-boggling and fuzzy logic in my opinion.
C'est la vie, time will tell but there is every possibility the Tauranga waterfront and CBD will be the losers.

R Paterson, Matapihi.