A stormwater report found that viable stormwater options are
available for both sites. However, a liquefaction report found the
City West site and small parts of the Whakarongo site are likely to
be susceptible to liquefaction in the event of an earthquake.
Policy planner Daniel Batley says a number of uncertainties
exist with regard to new residential subdivision and housing
development on land susceptible to liquefaction.
"Therefore, at this time, it is not appropriate to rezone City
West residential."
"Instead we've recommended that the Whakarongo area is advanced
for residential rezoning to cater for short to medium term
residential growth of Palmerston North."
The Planning and Policy Committee approved the addendum to the
Residential Growth Strategy that acknowledges the results of the
technical reports and the officer's recommendation at its meeting
last night.
The decision now needs to go to the full Council meeting at the
end of the month for ratification. If it's accepted then the next
step is to finalise the Proposed District Plan Change to rezone the
Whakarongo site from rural to residential.
Daniel Batley says in the meantime the Council will continue to
monitor residential growth across the City to help with future
decisions on residential rezoning