REZONING OF LINWOOD

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27641, 23 April 1955, Page 2

REZONING OF LINWOOD

FURTHER TIME FOR OBJECTIONS

COMMITTEE ASKED FOR SCHEME

“Why this delay? I there was unanimity on the need for rezoning when co y ncll ?S rs . h the Linwood area," said the Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.) at the City Council meeting last evening. The town planning committee reported that it had considered requests of residents for the rezomng oi the part of Linwood set aside for light in dustrial purposes, and that no action be taken until property owners, who had not made recommendations, were consulted. The Mayor moved that the clause should be referred back to the committee for it to bring down a rezoning scheme for the area. Objecting, Cr. J. E. Ta*t sald ® town planning authority had been set up, and he considered that pending its scheme the council should not rezone any area. It could protect the rights of residents by not allowing anything that would be detrimental to the area. Both the city and the metropolitan plans had come to a fairly true assessment of the needs of industry in Christchurch. If any comparatively large area already zoned for industry was to be rezoned, it followed that Christchurch would be short of land for industry. There were 411 houses in the area, but the occupiers of 323 houses had not expressed an opinion. Cr. T. H. McCombs said the council was operating an undisclosed scheme and it was open to it to make alterations to it. However, he thought everyone should have a chance to express an opinion. The Mayor: They have had every chance. It is not an over-night thing. Effect on Values Rezoning of an industrial area to a residential area might very well cut the value of properties in half, Cr. McCombs said. That was something many people might not realise. He suggested that the council should have authority to issue licences for factories for the type of work to be done. “Our major difficulty is not the putting up of buildings, but the use to which existing buildings are put,” he added. Most of the light industry was not objectionable, said Cr. A. R. Guthrey, and if they were scattered throughout the suburbs they provided people with an opportunity of living near their work.

The Mayor altered his amendment by adding that after the committee had rezoned the area the plan should be advertised and opportunity given for the lodging of objections. “If you add that a clear statement be presented as to how the council proposes to administer the act until the regional or district scheme is adopted I will vote for it,” said Cr. Tait. The Mayor’s amendment was adopted, as was Cr. McCombs’s suggestion that the Government be asked for legislation giving the council authority to issue a licence for the type of work to be carried out in a factory. The council took no action on two objections to the present zoning because the areas were close to the railway line. One objection was to Raycroft street being designated a heavy industrial area, and the other made a request that the area bounded by Moorhouse avenue, the railway line. Wilsons road and Falsgrave street be declared residential.