SUBDIVISIONS AND ZONING.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20420, 15 December 1931, Page 13

SUBDIVISIONS AND ZONING.

INTENTIONS OF CITY COUNCIL. POLICY OF TOWN PLANNING COMMITTEE. When submitting the report of the Town Planning Committee at last night's meeting of the Christchurch City Council Cr. E. H. Andrews, the chairman of the committee, made an important statement in connexion with subdivisions and zoning. Cr. Andrews said that he desired to make a statement as a guide to the public when making applications in respect of subdivisions. Apparently members of the public did not read, or did not know the new conditions. As to the increasing number of applications requiring special consent of the Council where the subdivisions were not in n.omrdancfi with thf> by-laws, in the majority of cases the reasons put forward were that the section sold was in accordance with the by-laws in force when the sale was made, but that the by-law had since been altered. Section 335 of the Municipal Corporations Act made it an offence to sell, or even offer for sale a portion of a property, thereby constituting a subdivision, without first obtaining the approval of . the local authority. In such cases the reason advanced was not a valid one, and laid the applicant open to a prosecution for a breach of the law. It might be desirable to take action in some such instance in order to give greater publicity to the matter. Question of Hardship. It was a matter for consideration whether the Council should narrow the definition of "hardship" to apply to the configuration of the land, as once the door was opened wider the difficulties in dealing with these applications were increased • enormously. In every case that Jiad .come before'the Counofllately, the reasons advaacedhad

been, in the special circumstances, good and 'sufficient in themselves, but the trouble was that the position was tending to becme too lax as regards the bylaw. ■ It was suggested, that the committee should refuse to sanction subdivisions iu future which were not in accordance with by-laws, unless some very exceptional circumstances were connected therewith—the fact that there had been a sale not to be accepted as a reason for approval. Building Permits. It was desired also to give greater publicity to the position under the Town Planning Act with regard to the issue of building permits- -In accordance with the Town Planning Act the zoning of the City was proceeding as expeditiously as possible. That meant that the City would be classified into districts, such as residential, commercial, light industrial, and heavy industrial, and restrictions would operate as to what could be built and what could not be built in each of these districts. Pending the completion of the zoning, the Council had power to refuse -permits which would be in conflict' with the amenities of any particular area, or would conflict with any particular of the scheme in course of preparation. Zoning Plan Not Yet Disclosed. It was recognised that the present position was unsatisfactory inasmuch as the zoning plan was not public property, but the zoning was being completed as quickly as possible. In. the meantime it would be as well for the public to make all enquiries at the Council offices before committing themselves to the purchase of land or buildings for the purpose of commencing any business. Ratepayers in residential districts were taking an increased interest in the amenities of their district, and comments were being received continually on matters of local interest. In many cases the Council had obtained, the views of ratepayers on proposals, and it was probable that this would be done to a greater extent in the future. It should be borne in mind, therefore, that very many factors required to be taken into consideration in many cases where building permits were applied for, and that it was not merely a question of conformity with the building bylaws. On the completion of the Council's zoning proposals the public would have every opportunity of lodging objections , before . they were finally adopted.