A fantastic turnout from Milford people on Thursday 4th. Our estimate was around 450 people in total, with 80 having to stand. It does show just how concerned the community is about the potentially negative effects of the current proposals to turn our suburb into an urban landscape. A number of important Auckland Council politicians attended including Deputy Mayor and head of the Unitary Plan Political Working Party, Penny Hulse, our two North Shore Councillors Ann Hartley and George Wood, Auckland Councillors Wayne Walker and Dick Quax, and the full complement of our Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Members - Chair Chris Darby, Members Jan O'Connor, Mike Cohen, Joseph Bergin, Dianne Hale and Kevin Schwass.
North Shore Times was present so look out for their report in the next week or so. NewstalkZB is also extremely interested and mentioned our meeting in the next morning's news.
Auckland Council Planning Manager, Penny Pirrit, gave an overview of the reasons for the Unitary Plan and the concepts behind it including the Auckland Plan's vision of a compact city. She then confirmed that the proposals for Milford currently include (depending on property size and zone) the ability to build:
Council is confident that the Urban Design Assessments which will be applied to all buildings in the apartment / terraced house zone will ensure that these higher buildings will be of high quality and will protect the privacy and daylight within the building and of neighbouring buildings.
Check out the map below or go online to http://acmaps.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/unitaryplan/FlexViewer/index.html
Questions and concerns
Penny Pirrit faced a vigorous question session from the floor
Problems over answers
What people need to do. Get a submission form and spend time giving your feedback and telling Council what would be an acceptable level of intensification and height for Milford. Closes 31 May 2013. How do you want MIlford to be in 10, 20, 30 years? What are the specific inconsistencies you see in the plan? Quite theoretical
