AUTHORITY OPPOSES SHOPPING CENTRE PLAN

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30073, 6 March 1963, Page 11

AUTHORITY OPPOSES SHOPPING CENTRE PLAN

Details of a 25,000 sq ft shopping centre which an overseas development company plans to build in Riccarton road near Matipo street came before the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority yesterday. The shopping area, which would be built on land formerly commonly known as “Beath’s site,” would include a car park for more than 190 vehicles.

The authority decided to object to the proposal, on the grounds that the centre would further aggravate traffic problems on Riccarton road.

When the authority originally objected to the Riccarton Borough Council’s proposal to zone as commercial the land fronting Riccarton road, for 9.3 chains east erf Matipo street, the council rejected the objection. The authority has now lodged an appeal with the Town Planning Appeal Board, and this will be heard on March 16.

While the authority considered the proposals yesterday the chairman (Mr E. J. Bradshaw), who is also the Mayor of Riccarton, vacated the chair in favour of the deputy chairman. Mr G. D. Griffiths.

Development Proposed A proposal for the development in depth of one of the properties concerned ir. the appeal had been put to the Riccarton Borough Council and discussed with officers of the authority, said Mr Griffiths. The developer’s solicitors advised that the development company was an overseas one, and a senior director was flying to New Zealand for a meeting with his advisers. It was considered that the development in depth had

much merit, and the type of development envisaged was not condemned, Mr Griffiths said. lit was felt that such development should be within the existing commercial centre at the point where development was most likely to occur. In the particular site under consideration, the proposal would not lessen the effect of traffic that would arise from linear development, said Mr Griffiths. Therefore, the authority’s previous objection to the frontage being zoned commercial should stand. Large Car Park When told the developing company had planned for a park to hold more than 190 cars, Mr T. D. Flint said he thought the authority was “putting the cart before the horse.” He opposed the recommendation on the grounds that this' type of commercial development was needed in the South Island. “Why are we worrying about traffic problems on Riccarton road when they are providing a car park. We seem to be discouraging good development.”

Mr R. C. Neville also opposed the recommendation. He considered that the prevision of the large car park could hardly be consistent with generating a traffic problem. The car park really had little to do with the traffic problem, said Mr J. L Colligan. “If the park holds 190 cars, then I would say the centre would attract another 190 cars. It would generate traffic that would not use the park and this would cause congestion on Riccarton road. I think it should be kept off the main highway so that we avoid traffic problems.” Mr Neville: It’s not a main highway. Although it might not be strictly a main highway, it really served that purpose, said Mr E. Somers. He agreed with Mr Colkgan that the centre was of a good design, “but it should be in the proper place.” “Whether the traffic to the centre comes along Riccarton road or the side roads, and even though there is a park, it will still cause traffic holdups. We have got to be very careful before we agree to a change in our planning scheme,” Mr Somers said. Mr CoUigan: We have already objected to the Riccarton council about this. Are we going to consider changing our minds now just because someone has brought along a pretty plan? The authority voted 9-1 in favour of continuing its objection. Resuming the chair, Mr Bradshaw said the Riccarton council had given its bless-

ing to the scheme, and would go before the Town Planning Appeal Board with no objection to the land being zoned commercial. “Of course, that is a district view, and we on this authority must look at it from a regional point of view. I think this is quite the right and proper way of deciding such issues.”