Small settlement policy unit

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5.3.1 Description of Policy Unit

The small settlement policy unit includes the existing small to medium sized settlements within Westland District. The general purpose of the policy unit is to provide the community and commercial facilities necessary to service the town, surrounding rural areas and the travelling public. One zone is included in this policy unit, that is the Small Settlement Zone. It covers the towns of Kumara, Kaniere Road, Kaniere, Lake Kaniere, Ross, Harihari, Whataroa, Woodstock, Ruatapu, Arahura, Kokatahi, Hannahs Clearing and Rimu.

Some of the small settlements have historic connections with gold mining. In Ross in particular, care should be taken to preserve the character of the historical hill area, although it is possible that some of the flat land could be taken for mining in the future.

The boundaries of the settlements reflect the existing development and where appropriate give an indication of the direction for further development. Where possible, in depth expansion is favoured over linear development.

The rules for the zone aim to allow activities which are residential in nature, which are compatible with residential use or desirable for the servicing needs of the town. The character of the small settlements is predominantly residential. The standards recognise that the location of non-residential activities will be largely influenced by site specific considerations so that activities are located where they have minimum effects on the environment, including neighbouring activities.

It is acknowledged that in Arahura the land is mostly in Maori ownership. The same rules as other small settlements, apply to Arahura but in addition papakainga and marae are controlled activities throughout the District and may be appropriate in Arahura.

5.3.2 Zones

5.3.2.1 Small Settlement Zone

A. Permitted Activities

• Any residential, recreational, commercial, industrial or agriculture activity which complies with the standards for permitted activities for the zone (see Table 5.3) and complies with the general rules in Part 8.

B. Discretionary Activities

• Any residential, recreational, commercial, industrial or agricultural activity which complies with the standards for discretionary activities in the zone (see Table 5.3).

C. Non-complying Activities

• Any activity which does not fall within the permitted, or discretionary categories.

D. See Part 6 for other activities.

5.3.3 Standards for Permitted and Discretionary Activities

5.3.3.1 Permitted and Discretionary Activities

(See Appendix E for assessment of discretionary activities)

Table 5.3 Standards for Permitted and Discretionary Activities

5.3.4 Explanation

(a) Hours of Operation for non-residential activities of the small settlements are restricted to ensure the quiet relaxed nature is maintained especially during night time hours. It is important that neighbours are not disturbed by activities which operate for extended hours.

(b) Gross Ground Floor Area is limited to ensure that in the Small Settlement Zone the small scale nature of buildings is preserved. Large buildings, particularly bulky buildings have the potential to disrupt residential amenities and other aspects of environmental quality, such as outlook. The size of relocated buildings is limited to ensure that the buildings will not disrupt the amenities of the settlement.

(c) Height controls ensure that any building or structure does not adversely impact on the amenities of neighbours, in particular aspects such as sunlight, outlook and privacy. Height is limited to ensure that the low rise nature of settlements is maintained and that settlement character remains in keeping with the surrounding rural landscape.

(d) Height in Relation to Boundaries is determined by use of recession planes (refer Appendix D for calculation of recession plane angle). The requirements shall apply to all internal site boundaries for all activities in the zone.
Use of the recession plane enables minimum and maximum distances and maximum height of buildings in relation to site boundaries to be determined. Recession planes help avoid overshadowing and loss of outlook. Non compliance with recession plane controls shall require an application as a non complying activity.

(e) Dwellings are permitted on site sizes of 300 m2 and 250 m2 for discretionary activities. The rule allows low-medium density residential development on a site which is consistent with the scale and open character of housing development currently prevalent within these settlements, while recognising that smaller sites may be necessary given the existing pattern of development.

(f) Front yards are specified to ensure an openness in the streetscape. Yards also allow space for landscaping, access and for infrastructure and services to be supplied to a site.

(g) Site Coverage is controlled to ensure that sufficient open space is provided and that the scale and intensity of development remains in keeping with the dominant character of the zone. Maximum site coverage standards in the Small Settlement Zone ensure that the low to medium density of most development in this zone is retained.

(h) Building Length of walls are controlled to ensure that large bulky buildings, do not proliferate throughout predominantly residential areas and that outlook and amenity is not adversely affected. Building length standards work with those for gross floor area to ensure that large unbroken walls do not detrimentally affect neighbours' amenities.

(i) Glare from neighbouring properties can detrimentally impact on a person's enjoyment of their property especially at night. Light spill from floodlighting to neighbouring properties and glare from reflective materials shall be avoided where this results in adverse effects on neighbours.

(j) Heritage Sites and Buildings scheduled in Appendix A, are protected by the standards. Modification (excluding normal maintenance works) is a discretionary activity. Historic and cultural items and sites, including buildings make a significant contribution to the District's identity and character. Any proposal to modify any of these scheduled sites will be publicly notified.

(k) Signs in the Small Settlement Zone are controlled with respect to area only. Generally signs must not exceed an area of 2 m². The rule does not apply to regulatory signs which are required to be erected by the Council, traffic signs erected by the road controlling authority or Council, or signs denoting the names of the streets, number of premises, or the location, timetable or other details of any public facility. Signs have a reduced impact when set against an urban as opposed to rural background. However very large signs or an excess of signs can have a detrimental impact on the amenities of settlements, in particular visual and aesthetic values and the overall character.

(l) Noise standards are set to prevent cumulative increases in background noise levels and to ensure the protection of community health and amenity. Excessive noise levels can have a detrimental impact on environmental quality. Road traffic noise is excluded from the noise standards. Transit New Zealand has developed draft standards for road traffic noise which may be applied to State Highway improvements.

All measurements are to be taken and assessed in accordance with the NZ Standards 6801: 1991 "Measurement of Sound" and 6802: 1991 "Assessment of Environmental Sound". The noise shall be measured with a sound level meter complying with the international standard IE 651 (1979): Sound Level Meter, Type 2.

(m) Outdoor space is provided for all dwellings in the Small Settlement Zone and is particularly important where building density and site coverage is high. Outdoor space is important for maintaining residential amenity but also for the health and enjoyment of residents.

(n) External storage of commercial or industrial products can be visually offensive and can break up the dominant residential character of an area or impact on the amenity of properties adjoining industrial and/or commercial areas.

(o) Non-residential activities - maximum number of workers - the restriction on the number of workers is to control the size and scale and thus potential for adverse effects of non-residential activities.