BY-LAW AMENDED

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24982, 17 September 1946, Page 5

BY-LAW AMENDED

FRONTAGES OF SHOPS « SEPARATE OCCUPANCY w "’iN 1944 A change in the Christchurch bylaw prohibiting subdivisions in commercial or industrial areas which produce a lot having a frontage of less than 20 feet was agreed upon by the Christchurch City Council on . the recommendation of the housing and town planning committee last evening. The change was necessitated by thp elimination of “physical subdivisidns” as a result of the Housing Improvement Act last November and consequent hardship .on persons who wish to take title to shops with small frontg“The reason for the by-law is. fairly obvious,” the committee stated. “Ultimately the whole of the commercial district Will have to be rebuilt. If the area is split into small frontages rebuilding will inevitably be delayed owing to difficulty in owners reaching agreement or until such person buys out a group of shops. Alternatively, the owner of a small Piece of land used for shopping purposes will at best put up a two-storeyed. building. The general appearance of the city is likely to • be detrimentally affected if. the shopping area is split' into very small areas. „ , “On the other hand, the small shop-, keener can be detrimentally affected by the by-law. Many require a frontage of only 10 to 15 feet. If the bylaw continues, then the trader cannot own his own property, but must rent it." with 'Consequent insecurity of tenure and possible overcharging in rents and difficulty in having his shop fitted up as required.” , x The following amendment of the bylaw was approved: “Separate titles may be issued in a commercial or industrial area for any building that was capable of separate occupancy «n December 31. 1944. If party walls are involved, then such party walls must be of brick, stone, or concrete.”