The neighbour of a Stoke subdivision is concerned over the lack of communication and traffic problems he believes the development will create.
Exeter Estates is created by Home Living Solutions – a syndicate of developers who have bought up land around Nelson to offer packages to aspiring buyers.
Exeter Estates is under development at the end of Exeter St with part of it backing onto Nayland College grounds.
It is marketed as an opportunity for everyone “offering a range of sections to suit every lifestyle and age”.
However, Malcolm Ross, who lives over the other side of the school grounds, says he was surprised to see trees and flaxes being ripped up for the development when no one had told him or his neighbours what was going on.
“In Auckland neighbours picket and protest when trees are threatened, here they are being felled/removed with no communication or indication as to the scope of the project.”
Malcolm says the people on Exeter St have likely had updates.
“But we haven’t and we have a prime view of it. We have been here about 20 years and it’s been pretty placid up until now.”
Malcolm says more of a concern will be the traffic caused by the 50-home development. About three-quarters of the homes have already been sold with the first stage due for completion in February.
“The implications on traffic at the Nayland/Exeter intersection will be dire, especially during school terms; it is already bad enough, but the extra traffic will make it impossible.”
Nelson City Council’s group manager of strategy and environment, Clare Barton, says the traffic implications of the subdivision were assessed in the resource consent process.
“It was deemed that the existing road and intersection are of sufficient design standard to cater for the additional traffic.”
Jo Taylor from Home Living Solutions says it’s disappointing that the neighbour did not contact them directly to raise his concerns.
“We have had a sign in place at the end of Exeter St, start of the subdivision since the beginning of the year and my contact details are on there.”
She says as the subdivision is a compliant activity within a residential zone there was no requirement for consultation with neighbours.
“Given that work has been in progress on that site for almost a year now I find it unusual that the neighbour now raises concerns?”
