2 Public open space zones

1. Activity table
The following table specifies the activity status of activities in the public open space zones.
Activity Conservation zone Informal Recreation zone Sport and Active Recreation zone Civic Spaces zone
 Community zone
Any activity in accordance with a precinct plan, or adopted reserve management plan, conservation management strategy or conservation management plan P P P P P
Any activity identified in a precinct plan or adopted reserve management plan, but not in the location specified on that plan, conservation management strategy or conservation management plan RD RD RD RD RD
Accessory buildings P P P P P
Residential  
Camping grounds D D NC NC NC
A single workers' accommodation dwelling
 P
 P
 P
 NC
 P
Visitor accommodation – huts and lodges only
 D
 RD
 NC
 NC
 NC
Community
  
Visitors centre D D NC D P
Community centres and halls NC D D D P
Early childhood learning services up to 100m2 within an existing building NC P P D P
Arts and cultural centres NC D D D P
Clubrooms D RD P D P
Libraries NC D D D P
Grandstands NC NC RD NC NC
Informal recreation P P P P P
Information facilities accessory to a permitted activity P P P P P
Offices and administration accessory to a permitted activity P P P P P
Organised sport and recreation NC RD P NC P
Public amenities P P P P P
Recreation facilities D RD P D P
Coastal
  
Coastal navigational aids P P P NC NC
Commerce  
Markets NC RD RD RD RD
Restaurants and cafes, excluding a drive-through facility, accessory to a permitted activity and further than 50m from a residential zone NC RD RD RD RD
Restaurants and cafes, excluding a drive-through facility, accessory to a permitted activity and within 50m of a residential zone NC D D D D
Retail accessory to a permitted activity D P P P P
Retail not otherwise provided for NC D D D D
Industry
  
Parks depot, storage and maintenance RD P P NC NC
Infrastructure  
Stormwater management devices D D D D D
Vehicle parking and associated vehicle access D P P D RD
Rural
  
Conservation planting P P P NC NC
Farming or grazing as part of a management programme for the public open space P P P NC NC
Mana Whenua  
Customary use P P P P P
Marae complex D P P P P
Development  
Artworks P P P P P
Demolition of buildings P P P P P
Internal additions and alterations to existing buildings P P P P P
New buildings and external additions to existing buildings P P P P P
New buildings and external additions to existing buildings exceeding the gross floor area thresholdin clause 3.8 below
 D RD RD RD RD
Exterior lighting, for security, safety and amenity purposes P P P P P
Non-security floodlighting, fittings and supports and towers 18m high or less NC P P P NC
Non-security floodlighting, fittings and support towers more than 18m high NC RD RD RD NC
Fences on the front boundary more than 75 per cent transparent P P P P P
Fences on the front boundary less than 75 per cent transparent RD RD RD RD RD
Gardens, including botanic P P P P P
Maimais - erection, use, alteration, maintenance and demolition associated with lawful gamebird hunting P P NC NC NC
Observation areas, viewing platforms and related structures P P P P P
Parks infrastructure P P P P P
Sport and recreation structures NC P P NC NC
Parks maintenance P P P P P
Recreational trails P P P P P

2. Land use controls
2.1 Maimai
1. A maimai must be no more than 10m2 in area.
2. A maimai must not exceed 3m in height above MHWS or ground level.

3. Development Controls

The following development controls apply to all of the public open space zones unless otherwise specified in the control.
3.1 Precinct plans and reserve management plans
Purpose: provide for more detailed site specific planning through precinct plans and reserve management plans.

1. The development controls specified in a precinct plan or reserve management plan will apply in place of any of the development controls specified below.
3.2 Recreational trails
Purpose: ensure recreational trails are complementary to the open space character of the zone

1. Within the Public Open Space - Conservation zone:
a. trails must be no more than 3m wide
b. earthworks must not exceed a depth of 300mm.
3.3 Application of controls
Purpose: treat a public open space as a single site where it has the appearance and function of a single site.

1. Where a public open space comprises multiple sites but has a common open space zoning, the entire zone will be treated as a single site for the purpose of applying the controls listed below.
3.4 Building height
Purpose: manage the height of development to retain the particular open space character of the zone.
Table 1
Zone Building height
Conservation 5m
Informal recreation 8m
Sport and active recreation 15m
Civic spaces 8m
Community 8m
3.5 Height in relation to boundary
Purpose: ensure buildings on the periphery of the open space do not dominate neighbouring predominantly residential zones -

1. Where a public open space directly adjoins a site in another zone, the height in relation to boundary control that applies in the adjoining zone applies to the adjoining public open space boundary.
2. Where the adjoining zone does not specify a height in relation to boundary control, the yard and/or setback controls in the adjoining zone applies to the boundary directly adjoining the public open space boundary.
3.6 Yards
Purpose:
•provide a reasonable standard of visual amenity between open space zones when viewed from the street
•provide a buffer between open space zones and neighbouring residential and special purpose zones.
Table 2
Yard Conservation
 Informal Recreation Sport and Active Recreation Civic Space
 Community
Front yard
 5m
5m or the average of the setback of buildings on adjacent front sites, whichever is lesser
 5m
The average setback of buildings on adjacent front sites
 The average setback of buildings on adjacent front sites
Side and rear yards
 6m where the open space adjoins a residential or special purpose zone or the Future Urban zone, otherwise 3m except, no side and rear yards required for public open space adjoining a business zone
 3m where the open space adjoins any residential zone
 3m where the open space adjoins any residential zone
Riparian yard 10m from the edge of permanent and intermittent streams
  
Coastal protection yard
 25m
 20m
 10m
 10m
 10m
3.7 Screening
Purpose: require rubbish and/or storage areas to be screened from neighbouring sensitive land uses -

1. Any outdoor storage or rubbish collection areas that directly face and are visible from a residential, rural or business zone adjoining a boundary with, or on the opposite side of the road from, an open space zone, must be screened from those areas by a solid wall or fence at least 1.8m high.
3.8 Gross floor area threshold
Purpose: limit the size of buildings within public open spaces to retain their open space character

1. The GFA of individual buildings must not be more than the limits specified for the zone in the table below:

Table 3:
Conservation Informal Recreation
 Sport and Active Recreation
 Civic Space Community
50m2 100m2 150m2 where the building is within 20m of a residential zone or the Future Urban zone or the CMA

500m2 where the building is further than 20m from a residential zone or the Future Urban zone or the CMA
 50m2 150m2
3.9 Maximum site coverage
Purpose: limit the extent of building and development so that an open and spacious character is retained.
1. The maximum permitted site coverage or cumulative total area of buildings must not exceed the limits specified for the zone in the table below:

Table 4:
Maximum site coverage Conservation
 Informal Recreation
 Sport and Active Recreation
 Civic Space Community
All sites
 1 per cent
 10 per cent
 20 per cent
 5 per cent
 50 per cent
3.10 Maximum impervious area
Purpose: manage the amount of stormwater runoff generated by a development
1. Maximum impervious area: the lesser of 10 per cent or 5000m2.
3.11 Lighting
1. Within the Sport and Active Recreation zone, floodlights adjoining a site within a residential zone must not operate after 10pm Monday to Sunday, including public holidays.

4. Assessment - Restricted discretionary activities
4.1 Matters of discretion
The council will restrict its discretion to the matters below for the activities listed as restricted discretionary in the activity table.
1. Camping grounds, visitor accommodation, ramps, jetties and pontoons and new buildings exceeding the GFA threshold
a.intensity and scale
b.noise, lighting and hours of operation
c.design of parking and access
d.development design, external appearance and landscaping
e.effects on heritage and the natural environment
f.integration of mātauranga and tikanga into the development
g.effects of development on public access to the public open space
h.consistency with any relevant precinct plan or adopted reserve management plan.
2. Any activity or building identified in a precinct plan or adopted reserve management plan but not in the location specified and markets
a.intensity and scale
b.noise, lighting and hours of operation
c.design of parking and access
d.development design, external appearance and landscaping
e.effects on heritage and the natural environment
f.integration of mātauranga and tikanga into the development
g.consistency with any relevant precinct plan or adopted reserve management plan.
3. Grandstands, clubrooms
a.intensity and scale
b.noise, lighting and hours of operation
c.design of parking and access
d.development design, external appearance and landscaping
e.consistency with any relevant precinct plan or adopted reserve management plan.
4. Organised sport and recreation
a.intensity and scale
b.noise, lighting and hours of operation
c.consistency with any relevant precinct plan or adopted reserve management plan.
5. Restaurants and cafes accessory to a permitted activity and further than 50m from a residential zone
a.intensity and scale
b.noise, lighting and hours of operation
c.design of parking and access
d.effects of development on public access to the public open space
e.consistency with any relevant precinct plan or adopted reserve management plan.
6. Parks depot, storage and maintenance sheds
a.intensity and scale
b.noise, lighting and hours of operation
c.development design, external appearance and landscaping
d.effects on heritage and the natural environment
e.integration of mātauranga and tikanga into the development
f.effects of development on public access to the public open space
g.consistency with any relevant precinct plan or adopted reserve management plan.
7. Vehicle parking, vehicle access and internal roads
a.design of parking and access
b.development design, external appearance and landscaping
c.effects on heritage and the natural environment
d.integration of mātauranga and tikanga into the development
e.effects of development on public access to the public open space
f.consistency with any relevant precinct plan or adopted reserve management plan.
8. Non-security floodlighting, fittings and supports and towers more than 18m in height
a.intensity and scale
b.noise, lighting and hours of operation
c.consistency with any relevant precinct plan or adopted reserve management plan.
9. Fences on the front boundary less than 75 per cent transparent
a.development design, external appearance and landscaping
b.consistency with any relevant precinct plan or adopted reserve management plan.
4.2 Assessment criteria
1. Camping grounds, visitor accommodation, ramps, jetties and pontoons and new buildings exceeding the GFA threshold
a.Intensity and scale
i.The intensity and scale of activities and any associated buildings and structures should be compatible with the built form and natural character of the public open space, including outstanding natural features, areas of habitat and ecological value, landscape, landform and geological features.
b.Noise, lighting and hours of operation
i.Recreational, community and commercial activities within the public open space should be designed and operated to minimise adverse effects on any adjoining residential zone. In this regard the council may impose conditions on the hours of operation, noise (including restrictions on the use of amplified music), numbers attending, lighting and signs associated with these activities.
c.Design of parking and access
i.Parking should be designed and located so it does not adversely affect the open space character, natural landscape or amenity of the open space and surrounding properties. Landscaping and/or screening may be used to mitigate these effects.
ii.Parking areas should be convenient, safe and have an efficient internal circulation pattern.
iii.Where practical, parking and access should be designed and located so as to enable its joint use by other activities that use the open space.
iv.Development should not inhibit public access to the coast.
v.Activities that generate high volumes of traffic should generally locate on arterial roads or roads that are well-connected to arterial roads, to avoid high levels of additional traffic on local roads that may detract from the amenity of the surrounding area, particularly neighbouring residential areas.
d.Development design, external appearance and landscaping:
i.A development site should be set out, designed and landscaped so that:
•buildings are grouped or clustered to maximise public open space and to make efficient use of shared services such as access, parking, circulation and utility networks
•significant adverse effects of the proposal are internalised to the public open space and in particular, will not significantly detract from the amenity of neighbouring properties
•the open space amenity and character of the site is retained
•buildings are designed to minimise bulk through the use of articulated forms and rooflines
•buildings are located and designed to activate the public open space or adjacent streets to provide interest and safety for pedestrians and those who use public open space
•buildings minimise intrusion on significant views, including views to the sea
•landscaping is compatible with the rest of the public open space and be sympathetic with the broader landscape character of the area
•existing trees are retained where possible
•development is located in areas clear of existing vegetation.
•recreational trails, walkways and cycle ways provide for safe and convenient access for users, including safe connections with the existing road network
•recreational trails, walkways and cycleways are legible and designed to be compatible with the open character of the site
•development, including buildings and structures for public use are designed to provide equal physical access for people of all ages and abilities.
e.Effects on heritage and the natural environment
i.Buildings and infrastructure should be formed developed in such a way that creates minimal adverse effect on the vegetation, wildlife, ecology and biodiversity, natural, historic and cultural heritage and the character of the public open space.
ii.In coastal cliff face areas, recreational trails, walkways, cycleways and infrastructure should be designed so they do not impact on the stability of the cliff, are visually sympathetic with natural values and retain as much vegetation as possible.
f.Integration of mātauranga and tikanga into the development
i.Development should integrate appropriate mātauranga and tikanga into the design of buildings and public open space. In determining this, consideration will be given to the expression of Mana Whenua values and the type of development proposed, including providing for example:
•materials and landscaping which reflect the natural features of the surrounding environment
•awareness of local history and whakapapa through design.
g.Effects of development on public access to the public open space
i.Proposals should not result in any significant loss of public access to and/or exclusive use of open space as a result of either development or any provision for exclusive lease arrangements.
ii.Where loss of public access or exclusive use is proposed the following matters will be considered:
•design of buildings that facilitates multiple use
•any compensating provision of recreational/community facilities
•deficiencies in public open space identified in the area.
h.Consistency with any relevant precinct plan or adopted reserve management plan
i. The proposal should be consistent with the outcomes sought in any relevant incorporated concept plan or adopted reserve management plan for the public open space.
ii. Less weight will be given to adopted reserve management plans that are more than 10 years old.
2.All other activities
a.Refer to the relevant assessment criteria above as they relate to the matters of discretion specified for the activity in clause 4.1 above.

5. Special information requirements
1. Design statement
A design statement is required for the activities specified in the table below. The design statement is required to include as a minimum the matters indicated within the table as set out in clause 2.7.2 of the general provisions. Drawings, illustrations and supporting written explanation should be proportionate to the complexity and significance of the development proposal. Refer to the ADM for guidance on the preparation of design statements.

Table 5:
Information requirements New buildings exceeding
the GFA threshold
 Vehicle parking and associated vehicle access
A. CONTEXT ANALYSIS
1. Site analysis
a. Existing site plan X X
b. Streetscape character X X (f-i) 
2. Neighbourhood analysis  
a. Natural and cultural environment X  
b. Movement X X
c. Neighbourhood character X X
d. Use and activity X X
e. Urban structure X  
3. Opportunities and constraints analysis  
a. Opportunities and constraints diagram X
X
B. DESIGN RESPONSE  
a. Concept design X X
b. Proposed site plan X X
c. Proposed elevations X  
d. Sunlight access X  
e. Landscape X X
f. Streets, accessways & lanes X X
g. Urban structure X  
h. Public open space X X