Poplars Business Park

The Times-Age enquired about what businesses were able to operate out of the Poplars Business Park on Ngaumutawa Road.

The following response was provided, attributable to Manager Regulatory Services, Steven May:

The Poplars Business Park has always been zoned ‘industrial’ under the Wairarapa Combined District Plan. This means that industry and some retail activity can operate from that development.

We have had some commercial services that do not appear to meet that criteria apply to locate their operations in the Poplars Business Park. We are in ongoing discussions with them as to whether their services meet the criteria for industry and retail activity that this land is zoned for. It is incumbent on the seller of properties in the development to advise potential purchasers of the exact criteria that pertains to its permitted use under the district plan.

In the current Wairarapa Combined District Plan, ‘industry’ is defined as:

premises used for manufacturing, fabricating, or processing, substances or material into new products, and includes the servicing and repair of goods, vehicles and machinery whether by machine or hand, and the parking or storage of all materials, products and machinery; with:

Primary Industry meaning industry listed in Appendix 4 Schedule of Primary Industries (Potentially Offensive, Noxious or Hazardous Industries); and

Secondary Industry meaning any other industry.

‘Retail activity’ is defined as:

the use of land or premises for the sale or hire of goods to the general public.

Under our District Plan, we aim to keep industrial activity on the outskirts of town while protecting the integrity of the town centre by encouraging commercial services to operate in and around the CBD. Council also needs to consider issues of reverse sensitivity that could arise where non compatible activities are sited near each other – for example, a manufacturing business being located near an office building.

The reporter asked for further clarification about what criteria for businesses in the park, and why this was necessary, and who manages the process of businesses becoming part of the park. The following information was provided:

The intention of the Combined District Plan is that some retailing may meet the criteria, i.e. the use of land or premises for the sale or hire of goods to the general public in the industrial area.

A business for which the primary function is to provide a service to the public may not may not meet the criteria.

As per previous response, the Council also needs to consider issues of reverse sensitivity that could arise where non-compatible activities are next to each other.

The sale or lease of land in the business park is managed by the developer. However, businesses wanting to establish themselves in the business park should first discuss with the Council what uses are appropriate in the area.