Council has approved the rezoning of 16 hectares of residential land on the corner of Farm Road and Racecourse Road to allow for low-medium housing development.

The rezoning to from Residential D to Residential C is a result of a private plan change application by Coniston Park Limited.

Group Manager of Compliance and Development Ian Hyde said the application was publicly notified last year and heard by an independent commissioner.

“There were seven submissions from people in the community, with some wanting to talk about stormwater, and ultimately the commissioner recommended the change to low-medium density development.”

An outline development plan for the site showed areas set aside for stormwater management (swales), but more detailed design work will be needed to satisfy Council at the resource consent stage.

Ashburton councillors last week adopted the commissioner’s recommendation and the outline development plan for the site is now part of Council’s District Plan, which sets out zones for residential, business and rural development in the district.

Mr Hyde said that Council had publicly notified the plan change, and a 15 working day period for appeals would follow for those who had been part of the hearing process.