TOWN-PLANNING SCHEME

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23351, 10 June 1941, Page 8

TOWN-PLANNING SCHEME

CITY COUNCIL SEEKS POSTPONEMENT EXTENSION TO LOCAL BODIES POSSIBLE The Town-Planning Board is to be asked by the Christchurch City Council to postpone further action in ti>e Christchurch town-planning scheme, to enable the council further to consider the whole scheme. This decision was reached by the new City Council last evening on the recommendation of its housing and town-planning committee. It was stated that there were prospects of surrounding local bodies taking part in a scheme covering the metropolitan area. The report of the housing and townplanning committee to the council set out that the next step in the advancement of the scheme would be a public inquiry by the Town-Planning Board. The board had written asking for a date for the hearing, and suggesting the second of third week of June. This was considered too early with a new committee elected, and the first week in July was recommended. The board considered that the inquiry would last about a week. "The scheme has been subjected to very considerable criticism from various quarters, but much of this is unfounded,” the report stated. ‘‘lt should be realised that the Standards Institute of New Zealand and the TownPlanning Board issued a model set of town-planning clauses for the guidance of local bodies in the preparation of town-planning schemes, and the board, which on several occasions had conferences with the City Council during the preparation of the scheme, has required the City Council to adhere very closely to the model clauses. Amendments Recommended "During the consideration of the objections, the City Council has recommended the amendment of several of the clauses in the scheme,, but it should be understood that the Town-Planning Board, after holding the inquiry, has the power to say whether these amendments shall be adopted or refused, and, further, has the prfwer to make any other amendments that it considers advisable.

“Little is known of the form of the inquiry except that it is to be a public inquiry and the objectors will be permitted to state their cases. The natural inference from this is that the council will also be represented. “It is understood that legal representations are being made on behalf of some interests, and if this is so it will probably be as well for the council also to have legal representation to deal with any legal points .that may arise, “The committee recommends - that the Town-Planning Board be asked to postpone any further action to enable the council to further consider the whole scheme.” The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) said the board had now fixed June 30 as the date on which the hearing of objections would begin. Difficulties in Applying Scheme Cr, F. S. Wilding said he saw three main difficulties ih the adoption of the scheme. Once, the scheme was accepted the council accepted the principles of the Town Planning Act. If, after its public inquiry, the board decided that the scheme should go on the whole scheme would then be fixed, the council would lose control of its own area, and that control would pass to a body in Wellington. Much nad yet to be done in classification and zoning, and Cr. Wilding added that every effort should be made to arrange for the outside bodies to come into the scheme. Under the betterment clause in the scheme anyone injuriously affected could bring claims for compensation, and the council could also claim against those whose property appreciated in value as a result of it.

“The whole thing is teeming with difficulties," said Cr. Wilding. , "Instead of ridding ourselves of restrictions, as we should at such a time, we ai;e taking on further restrictions.” Town planning'had been going on for years, and would still go on, with the city bylaws as its instrument and without any direction from Wellington. The Health Act would prevent overcrowding and the building by-laws would ensure that no unsuitable buildings were erected. “A town-planning scheme of this nature would have been eminently suitable 50 years Ago,, before the greater, part of the city, was built," said Cr. Wilding. Cr. H. E. Denton doubted Cr. Wilding’s assertion that control of the city’s development would pass to Wellington. “I only hope that Christchurch will be made a more beautiful and more healthy city, and I believe it can be made better only by means of a townplanning scheme," said Cr. Denton. “I will agree with Cr. Wilding that the whole thing wants wiping out, if vested interests in the city are going to have their way. But if we are going to have a more beautiful city for the workers and citizens I hope Cr. Wilding will not have the right to cut it out." Enlargement of Scheme Sought Cr. M. E. Lyons explained that it had been a plank in the platform of his side of the table that the scheme would be .suspended to enable efforts to be made to make it an all-embracing scheme covering the local bodies surrounding Christchurch. "We have had some encouragement from these councils, and there is reason to believe they have had a change of heart," said Cr. Lyons. "It is highly desirable that we have ah all-embracing scheme.” The Mayor said there was nothing in the recommendation suggesting the abandonment of the scheme. “In fact, I do not think we can abandon it, according to law.” The council was informed that the local bodies were prepared to come into the scheme, and everyone concerned was anxious to have a scheme covering every district into which the city, in its growth, was likely to extend. * “We have waited 13 years now, and if we are going to wait for the local bodies to be unified we will never have a town-planning scheme,” said Cf. G. Manning. “We are not against the scheme, which is an ideal scheme; we are against the application of it,” said Cr. W. P. Glue, chairman of the housing and town-planning committee. Under the scheme as at present framed the State Fire Building, the new Post Office and the Public Trust office would not be permitted to be built. A scheme which prevented any building of more than three storeys on a 60 foot frontage needed amendment. He doubted if there were two persons in Christchurch who understood the scheme. Over the years many councillors had contributed a little to the scheme and the result was a “very good example of patch-work quilting." Had the opinion of an architect or a builder ever been sought? "There are 188 objectors to the scheme and they can’t all be wrong," he added. Cr. Denton asked how many of the objections were lodged through one solicitor. "Twenty-seven,” replied Cr. Glue. He said these were all from representative organisations who spoke for a very large body of opinion in the community.