The council’s proposed Urban Intensification Variation (UIV) not only proposes increased density and building heights in residential areas in the district, it could also mean “confronting changes” to Wānaka’s CBD.

The variation was the subject of two drop-in sessions in Wānaka yesterday (Wednesday September 14). 

The UIV is an outcome of central government’s national policy statement on urban development (NPS-UD), which directs councils around the country to remove some planning rules and plan for growth ‘both up and out’.

Read more: Urban intensification: Growth ‘up and out’ proposed

The CBD height proposal could see the maximum height of buildings in the CBD increase from 12 metres to 16.5 metres.

The Precinct on Helwick Street is currently the highest building in Wānaka’s CDB, at 12m tall. 

The Precinct is the highest building in the CDB at 12m.

Adding another four and a half metres would equate to an additional storey, Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) planning policy manager Alyson Hutton

“It’s the start of another bloody Queenstown,” said one resident at yesterday’s drop in session.

The CBD height proposal is one of the more “dramatic and confronting” within the UIV, deputy mayor Quentin Smith told the Wānaka App.

Alyson said the changes to the height limits in the CBD were intended to allow for different business types and even the potential for people to live in the CBD.

Quentin said one question to assess is whether or not the existing height restriction in the CBD has put off developers.

Wānaka’s Wanaka Central Business District Property Owners Group did not wish to comment on the proposals at this stage, but members of the group planned to attend yesterday’s drop-in sessions and discuss the issues before forming a view.

The Wānaka App spoke to one retailer in the CBD who had owned a business there for 22 years. She said the height should remain the same to keep “the same feel [the CBD] has always had”.

“There’s enough going on at Three Parks,” she said.

Other proposals in the UIV for the CBD include relaxing and simplifying setback and sunlight access standards for sites that adjoin a residential zone; and new waste and recycling storage space, building height setback at upper floor, outlook space and minimum ground floor height standards.

The main message coming from council staff and elected members was: “We want people to understand and submit on the proposal”, Quentin said.

There is no more consultation planned in the Upper Clutha on the UIV.

Submissions are open until September 21, and information about how to make a submission can be found here.

PHOTOS: Wānaka App