NZ Council admits ‘we got it wrong’
Whangarei District Council will undertake street beautification work to help remedy a planning slip up in Kamo.
Council staff overlooked setback provisions for a building going up on the corner of Kamo and Station Roads, meaning the building stands out from the others around it – literally.
Most of the rest of the buildings in Kamo’s shopping precinct have been built with a 1.5m setback from the properties’ boundaries to allow for future widening of the roadway.
Council staff failed to include these provisions when a consent application for the new building was processed, and approved its construction up to the boundary.
The result is a dogleg in the streetscape, and Council left with a bill to alter the kerbing and remove a rubbish bin and light standard to meet minimum footpath widths.
Council Environment Group Manager Paul Dell said staff were disappointed when they realised the setback provisions had been overlooked.
“We had a meeting with the developer in the hope of pulling the building back, but he’d been through the process and had a contract to build.
“We have to live with the decision, and regret that the usual checks and balances didn’t pick up the setback issue.
“Staff feel they have let the people of Kamo down a little and are determined not to let such a thing happen again,” Mr Dell said.
Council CEO Mark Simpson said there would be some beautification work undertaken so the character of the shopping precinct in Kamo Road, while altered, would not be detrimentally affected.
The work on the kerbing will be carried out on a weekend to limit traffic disruption.
