Proposed Plan Change 73 - Paraparaumu Airport Limited

Submission to Kapiti Coast District Council on behalf of Kapiti Cycling Inc

Background
This submission is presented on behalf of Kapiti Cyling Inc (KCI). KCI is affiliated to the national cycling advocacy group Cycle Advocates Network, and represents the interests of cycling in the Kapiti Coast District. KCI has 25 financial members.

Scope
The scope of these comments is limited to the impacts of the proposed plan change to cyclists and the infrastructure that they currently use. It does not address the wider issue of the possible social and environmental impacts of the proposed development upon the Paraparaumu/Raumati community.

References to Cycling
The report correctly acknowledges the existence of cycle routes within and adjacent to the area covered by the proposed plan change. These are:

• the coastal cycle route using Marine Parade and Manly Street;
• Kapiti Road with cycle lanes on much of its lengthand
• the Wharemauku Stream path linking Paraparaumu town centre with the coast.

The report also refers to the KCDC Cycleways, Walkways, and Bridleways Strategy March 2004 that promotes cycling.

Provision for Cycle Movement
Section 3.5 states that existing cycle routes will be retained, and where practical new routes will be promoted. All roads within the zone will have formed footpaths that will accommodate cycle movements. The report concludes that this will improve cycle connectivity between residential areas to the west, the town centre, and the airport zone itself.

Roading Upgrades
The report, in Section 6, proposes a series of upgrades to the existing roading network. It concludes that, provided these upgrades proceed, the traffic associated with the development of the airport zone will not result in any unacceptable deterioration in travel conditions on the local road network.

Concerns of KCI

1. The report has identified that further work will be required to confirm that forecast traffic volumes resulting from the proposed airport development can be accommodated by planned roading upgrades. KCI believes that it is premature for a plan change to be agreed when assurances about projected traffic volumes cannot be provided by the applicant. This is particularly of concern to KCI, given the very unsatisfactory nature of Kapiti Road currently for cyclists. Without a commitment by the applicant to specific roading and associated cycle lanes/paths upgrades and provisions, there is a real danger that the proposed development will have a negative effect on cycling.

2. The report suggests that, despite the development of warehousing, retail outlets, a hotel, and a supermarket, the practice of cycling through and adjacent to the zone will be improved. Whilst provision of suitable cycle lanes is welcomed, it is hard to imagine how the inevitable changes to the environment from rural to urban with resulting increases in noise and emissions would promote cycle use. The contrary argument could be made that the proposed development will extend the present retail and office development from Ihakara Street and Rimu Road into the beachfront area, and drive a wedge into the coastal recreation area that would have negative effects on pedestrian and cycle movement.

3. Whilst opposing the plan change, KCI makes this submission in the event that if the plan change is approved, we will have input into the changed situation along the lines that we have indicated.

Lynn Sleath
Committee Member and Roading Representative
Kapiti Cycling Inc
18 May 2007.