Published as Issue No. 118 BUMPER CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
December 9, 2014
Community ice cream stall again this year!
- What: Home-made, $1 a scoop
- When: December 14 – 19
- Where: 27 View Rd
- Who: Houghton Valley community
See more information here. Brian is putting out a call for volunteers. The fliers are now ready and help is needed to drop them off around the neighbourhood, also to make the ice cream and be on the stand. Fill out the Roster. Profits to the Community Hall, if not consumed by helpers. Also, does anyone have an industrial freezer they can make available?
Housing Development: “Despite efforts by local people to require a notified consent for construction of 13 houses at 215 Houghton Bay, last week Ryan O’Leary, Senior Consent Planner at WCC granted the resource consent application on a non-notified basis.” [If you want to see the document outlining the Council decision it is available as a PDF file please request by return e-mail].
“We accept that sooner or later 215 Houghton Bay Rd will be used for residential housing and that the owners of 215 are obviously entitled to build there but we feel that thirteen houses on this site conflicts with and will completely change the character of the surrounding area; and cause parking and traffic safety issues.
The decision to grant the non-notified consent was made with no mention of the Scenic B Reserve which lays above the site and includes the northern boundary. The planned consented development on the southern boundary is appropriately a low density subdivision that is compatible with the character of View Road Headland Scenic Reserve which dominates the area of both subdivisions. We feel that a low density development of 5 – 6 lots at 215 would be also be suitable.
The decision to approve the non-notified application ignores many community concerns and the only avenue left to us is to challenge the report through a judicial review. This will obviously incur costs which we will need to be prepared for by the formation of an Incorporated Society. If you would like to see the special character of Houghton Valley preserved and care about traffic safety issues you can support this course of action by emailing us.” Jacob
HVPA meeting: A reminder the Houghton Valley Progressive Association will have the last meeting for 2014 at 3 pm on Sunday, 14 December at the Hall. There will be an agenda sent out to committee members, if you want to be included on that list, email Ken.
Beach Art: Feedback from last week’s item seeking opinions on the balancing wood and rock beach art/sculptures in the south coast:
- “Personally I love all the interesting balancing type structures.”
- “We like the sculptures!”
- “I hope no-one is suggesting that this creative person should be restricted in what he does. It’s harmless for the environment and attractive for the coast.”
- “I noticed as I drove along the coast this afternoon that all the beach art seems to have gone – is this a Council response or some local opponents?”
Until next year: This is the last issue for the year, the next will be mid-January. The newsletter does not set to take positions but to inform people about local issues and support participation and involvement by the community. All contributions and suggestions welcome.
Norman and contributors