A second retirement village has been proposed for the Arrowtown area under fast-track special housing rules.
A company linked to developer Chris Meehan has lodged an expression of interest with the Queenstown Lakes District Council for the Ayrburn Retirement Village on a 45.7ha site on Arrowtown-Lake Hayes Rd.
Ayrburn Farm Developments Ltd wants to build up to 201 one-storey dwellings, as well as care and recreational facilities, on a site adjoining Millbrook Resort.
A 150-section SHA proposal, Ayrburn Farm, was proposed for the same site by developers Adrian Burr and Mark Taylor last February.
It attracted strong public criticism and was not among four proposals selected for further scrutiny by the council last June.
In November, the council gave qualified support for the Arrowtown Lifestyle Retirement Village – proposed for a 20ha site in McDonnell Rd – to be given SHA status.
Councillors will receive a further report on that proposal before deciding whether to recommend it to the Government as an SHA.
The public has until February 19 to give informal feedback on the latest proposal. It will be considered by councillors on February 24.
Mr Meehan is the developer behind the 134-section Bridesdale Farm subdivision near Lake Hayes and the 1600-section Northlake subdivision on the outskirts of Wanaka.
Bridesdale Farm, the first subdivision in Queenstown to get Government approval as an SHA, was tentatively approved by council commissioners last week.
-by Guy Williams ODT