WAIMAIRI ZONING

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28671, 22 August 1958, Page 7

WAIMAIRI ZONING

Dispute Over

A milk treatment factory in a residential area wilt be permitted to extend its premises, and a pea-splitting mill, also in a residential zone, will have the two acres of its land on which its buildings stand zoned industrial, as a result of Waimairi County Council decisions last evening. These exemptions were approved by the council on divisions after Cr. R. N. McDonald had said: “We cannot go on interminably altering these town planning proposals,” and other councillors had claimed that both applicaitons were well founded. Wright’s Metropolitan Milk Company wanted to extend its premises only for “improved hygiene,” said Cr. C. L. Austin, who moved that the council revoke its earlier decision and permit the additions.

“We should stick to our town planning principles,” said Cr. McDonald. “Councillors have come here time and again trying to put our town-planning on a merry-go-round to suit individuals.”

Supporting him, Cr. P. WynnWilliams said: “If our zoning is wrong anyone has the right to appeal.”

Surely it was understood that established industries in non-in-dustrial areas would be protected, said Cr. T. W. Walter. Why should a reasonable extension be blocked “on a technicality?” All sorts of other extensions were being refused said Cr. J. I. Colligan, chairman of the town planning committee. It was possible to spot zone areas such as that, said the chairman (Mr H. J. Reynolds). Cr. Austin’s amendment was carried by five votes to three, and the permit for the extensions will be granted. Family Concern Altus Products, Ltd., was a family concern which had been in business in the county for 100 years, said Cr. Austin. As matters stood it was zoned residential A and unless it was zoned industrial the family’s life saving would be unredeemable. "They can’t sell it—who would buy it?” He moved, as an amendment to the town planning committee’s recommendation refusing the application, that it be referred back to the town planning committee for the delineation of a two-acre area, the land occupied by the mill premises, to be zoned industrial. He had never heard such rubbish as Cr. Austin had spoken, said Cr. Wynn-Williams. The intention was to stop any extension of the use by the occupier of any land not conforming to the local zoning, which would hinder the implementation of the town plan within a reasonable time. He would be prepared to accept a recommendation that the application be referred back to the town planning committee for further consideration, but not a direction from the council, said Cr. Wynn-Williams. He moved an amendment accordingly. Cr. Austin’s amendment was carried by five votes to one, and Cr. Wynn-Williams’s amendment was lost by four to three, on divisions.

Later in the meeting the council adopted Cr. Walter’s motion

“that the council give further consideration to the zoning of ‘industrial’ and ‘commercial’ undertakings which have been established . . . with the council’s approval, and yet have not been zoned on the council’s district planning scheme, and that the town planning committee be asked to bring down a report to the next meeting of the council.”

“Keep Off The Grass”.—The City Council reserves department had resown the Rolleston avenue lawns in front of the Canterbury Museum the Director (Dr. Roger Duff) told members of the board yesterday Everyone should “keep off the grass” so that there would be a good sward for the opening in November. The frontage had been further enhanced by shrubs also planted by the reserves department.