Tauranga City Council is developing a City Centre Spatial Framework document, to guide the future look and feel of the city centre streetscape, waterfront and open space.

To help with this, residents in the city centre, in particular those in the City Living Zone - Third Avenue to Ninth Avenue, the Selwyn Street area, and Cliff Road, Mission, Brown, Monmouth and Park streets – are being asked what they value about the streetscape and open space in their neighbourhood.

Many residents in these areas will have recently received communication on the City Centre Spatial Framework, and are encouraged to freepost their thoughts back to us. Alternatively, they can email their feedback to haveyoursay@tauranga.govt.nz by July 21.

The community are also encouraged to share their views at our open day on July 18, 2017, from 11am to 1pm or 4pm to 6pm at our Engagement Hub on the ground floor, 2 Devonport Road (opposite Whitcoulls).

City Transformation Committee Chair Larry Baldock says the City Centre Spatial Framework document is council's commitment to the community about the future look and feel of our city centre streetscape, waterfront and open spaces.

'As more people come to live and work in the city, we want to ensure we retain the things people living in the city centre value about their neighbourhood.

'The way we use our city centre streets and open spaces is changing as private sector development occurs – including developments like the new apartments planned for the corner of Monmouth and Willow streets, and the proposed apartment building on the corner of Cliff Road and Park Street.

'The City Centre Spatial Framework seeks to enhance the existing sense of place, environmental qualities and design character of these city centre neighbourhoods as these developments happen.

'In 2008, we learned that maintaining privacy, retaining a residential feel and green space, were among the things that people living in these city centre areas valued the most. We're back to check what matters for them now.”

Council has identified some key city centre streets and open spaces in the heart of the city centre that will be upgraded during the next three years, and engaged with the community recently on these areas (Durham Street and Durham Lane, Elizabeth Street east, The Strand Extension, Wharf Street east and Aspen Reserve.) These upgrades will follow the principles of the City Centre Spatial Framework.

City Transformation General Manager Jaine Lovell-Gadd says the City Centre Spatial Framework will help create better streets, spaces, access to the water, and better pedestrian and cycle connections that will make a real difference to the city centre.

For more information go to www.tauranga.govt.nz/heartofthecity