By Ian Powell
Kāpiti Coast District Council (KCDC) is considering a proposal to rezone two sections on Ratanui Rd (65 and 73) in Otaihanga from Rural Lifestyle to General Residential for the specific provision of a retirement village (Sommerset). The combined land size of these two properties is 14.75 hectares.
The formal proposal is in the name of Welhom Developments Ltd which is a registered New Zealand company sitting under its holding Company, Somerset Group Holdings Ltd which already has 23 retirement villages in New Zealand, including on the Kāpiti Coast. Another six villages are under construction, including one in Waikanae.
Should KCDC accept Somerset’s proposal the next step would be for it to apply for a resource consent to build the village. This is where KCDC has less control over decision-making because of limiting national guidelines local governments are required to follow. Its strongest say on infrastructure is pipes and roads.
While technically the rezoning proposal is only for two properties, it will affect all Otaihanga residents along with motorists from outside Otaihanga who use Ratanui Rd as a thoroughfare. It is disingenuous to think otherwise.
KCDC has called for submissions from residents over this proposal (closing date is 1 July). As an Otaihanga resident who lives close to the Domain I have submitted in opposition to the rezoning proposal focussing on the road. Ratanui Rd connects Otaihanga and Mazengarb Rds. I usually drive along the road to Mazengarb Rd (and return) at least once a day. Often I also cycle along the road.
I oppose to the whole rezoning proposal because of the increased traffic impact on Ratanui Rd, both to residents and motorists. The risk of harm to residents and motorists is likely to increase should the proposal be accepted and resource consent consequentially granted.
What is absolutely certain is that motorist frustration will increase.
Unfortunately, in Sommerset’s document supporting its rezoning proposal it states, in respect of this road, that there is “…mainly locally generated traffic movements, and with traffic travelling at moderate speeds.” This is nonsense and appears to be more based on speed limits than anything else including local knowledge.
Much traffic comes from and to the direction of Waikanae as it provides a short cut for those travelling to and from arguably most of Paraparaumu. This is most evident at peak times when people travel to work or to Paraparaumu College. It is reflected in long queues. This will be made worse as the neighbouring ‘Mansell family’ land development already underway on Otaihanga Rd progresses further.
If KCDC accepts this rezoning application and that if it then enables a successful resource consent application, the inevitable outcome would be to potentially make Ratanui Rd dangerous, at least at certain times for residents of the road. Further, it will increase the frustrations and increased risks for Otaihanga and other commuters. It also increased the risk of harm when motorists drop off and collect children at the early childcare centre across the road.
My road traffic and associated risk of harm concern might be alleviated by the provision of regular public buses along Otaihanga and Ratanui Rds. This would require some road widening and/or refinements in order to enable sufficient bus stops. However, until there is a firm timetabled commitment to do this, the rezoning proposal should be rejected.
However, while this is my focus, I acknowledge that other submitters may have legitimate different or additional concerns. My opposition is strategic. It deliberately focusses on an important issue that KCDC has the most control over.
Ian Powell is a Kāpiti resident and noted social commentator
