Kumeu-Huapai Central Area Plan
In 2003 Rodney District Council invited Chow:Hill to prepare an update to the Kumeu-Huapai Central Area Plan that would provide a long-term planning framework (or road map) for the community and planning staff. The plan also needed to capture the key aspirations and goals of the community and the intrinsic values and features of the wider area.

Initially the project required a comprehensive review of previous planning studies in the area in addition to extensive consultation with the newly formed Kumeu-Huapai Executive Group and the wider community. This work, along with extensive analysis of environmental and socio-economic characteristics, formed the basis for subsequent recommendations for the central area.

In response to these challenges Chow:Hill prepared a plan, which analysed and then made recommendations for all of the key components. These included Auckland Regional Council’s growth strategy, community issues, existing and future town centre needs, the open space network concept, public facility system needs, gateways, urban design guidelines and cultural/heritage features. Public submissions on the plan have been highly supportive. The draft document is currently being prepared for final public release.

For more information on this Chow:Hill project,
Email: stuart@chowhill.co.nz

Kumeu-Huapai Town Centre
In 2002 Rodney District Council commissioned Chow:Hill to provide a strategic review of the Huapai town centre, make specific recommendations as to future improvements and develop a concept plan of how the area could eventually look.

Chow:Hill first prepared a comprehensive environmental audit of the existing town centre area. The findings from this analysis were then reviewed against a series of fundamental urban design characteristics necessary in the creation of any successful town centre. These included physical and metaphysical elements: such as townscape structure, the public realm, movement and transportation, sustainability, connectivity and linkage, vision, strategic planning, stewardship, a sense of place, the 24-hour environment and the attractiveness or desirability of an area.

From this work a series of alternative concept plans were developed for review by Rodney District Council planning staff and elected officials. A recommended concept plan was later presented to the community and received unanimous support.

For more information on this Chow:Hill project,
Email: stuart@chowhill.co.nz