INDUSTRIAL ZONING

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29269, 29 July 1960, Page 15

INDUSTRIAL ZONING

Objections From Opawa

It was “absolutely ridiculous” for the City Council to establish heavy industry on three sides of a residential area between Opawa road and the railway, claimed Cr. C. D. Le Comte at last evening's meeting of the Heathcote County Council. "I’m pretty strong on this one. This is in direct Opposition to 100 per cent, of the residents down that way,” Cr. Le Comte said.

Tlie council was discussing a letter from the Hillcote Improvement Society saying that the society had been informed that a proposed heavy industrial area adjacent to Opawa road had been approved by the City Council, apparently without the necessary approval of the Heathcote County Council. “We would like to point out that residents in the area are still adamantly opposed to the establishment of the industry." the letter said. “We would be grateful if you would take the matter further with the City Council to see if the position can be reviewed.”

“I would have thought the City Council would give more thought to this zoning "before putting heavy industry right into these residents’ back doors,” Cr. Le Comte said. The council only had the information on the zoning by hearsay, said the chairman (Mr R. A. Young). Perhaps representatives of the Hillcote Improvement Society who were attending the meeting could tell the council of the source of the information?

One of the two representatives of the society told Mr Young that Mr H. P. Smith, the deputyMayor, had told Mr J. W. R. Byfield, a member of the society's committee, that the City Council had approved the use of the land as heavy industrial. Could the City Council do that without the county council's approval? asked a member. “The whole thing hinges on the definition of "adjacent," ’■ said Mr Young. “If It means ‘adjoining,’ the council has no power. If it means ‘nearby,’ the council has powers.

"Titere are tons of other areas available here for heavy industry. That is the pity of it,” Mr Young said. It was then decided to write to the City Council asking for its decision on a previous petition from local residents, who had asked the City Council to rezone the area as light industrial.