Fast-tracked development is sought for Stanmore Bay residential site

A proposal to build 59 homes on land by the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA is being fast-tracked through the government’s Covid-19 Recovery consenting process.

The developer chose the fast-track route because it was likely that an application for resource consent via Auckland Council would have resulted in public notification, given the intensity of what is proposed on land zoned residential-single house. Public notification, with the possibility of Environment Court appeals, was expected to take a year or more longer than the fast-tracking process.

Council, Auckland Transport (AT), Watercare and the owners of neighbouring properties, have all voiced concerns about the proposal.

The 18,248sqm site, at 20 Melia Place and 43A Vipond Road was a significant portion of the RSA’s land, until that organisation sold it. The new owner is KVest Investment Partners Group. Kvest and developer of the land, Melia Development, have the same director – Yuntao Cai of Auckland. 

The proposal is to build 59 units (2-4 bedrooms) in 21 blocks – 12 of the blocks are two storey and nine three-storey. A community hall and playground are included and at least one carpark per unit. There will be landscaping and internal roading.

Melia Development applied to the Minister for the Environment last June for its project to be fast tracked. This was approved on the basis of its capacity to provide construction jobs and add to the housing supply. Last November the developer took the next step of lodging a land use and subdivision consent application with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). 

Currently the proposal is before a panel of experts who make decisions on consent and other matters before the project can proceed. This process has been on hold since March 8 while the developer responds to questions from the panel (raised by Council and its CCOs) related to design, the retention of hedging and planting on the western boundary, and stormwater.

The impact on traffic has also been flagged as a concern by AT and residents of Melia Place.

The proposal seeks to utilise existing vehicle access points to Melia Road and Vipond Road via the RSA site.

Once residents move in, the subdivision is expected to add around 500 traffic movements per day with peak hour traffic generation of about 47 traffic movements per hour. These movements will be split between the Melia Place and Vipond Road access points. However, congestion on Whangaparāoa Road means it is already difficult to turn right out of Melia Place and it is anticipated that any drivers needing to head west along the peninsula will use the Vipond Road exit. AT wants no exit from the site to Melia Place – a road that residents say is often already reduced to one lane by parking on both sides – but the developer argues that is unnecessary, saying that the potential traffic effects will be less than minor.

AT also wants a pedestrian crossing on Whangaparāoa Road east of Melia Place to provide safe access to the citybound bus stop and the developer says this should be provided by AT. 

Earthworks are underway and Precise Homes (also with sole director Yuntao Cai) is already marketing the units with around 17 pre-sold off the plans.

Precise Homes marketing manager, Jacky Ren, says the company expects to complete the project by mid-2024.