Planning Board Hears Appeal Against Zoning

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30079, 13 March 1963, Page 5

Planning Board Hears Appeal Against Zoning

The Town and Country Planning Appeal Board yesterday reserved its decision after hearing an appeal by H. W. Smith, Ltd., against the Riccarton Borough Council’s zoning scheme.

The appellant—« timber and joinery company at 4 Riccarton road—asked the board to change the area's present classification as a residential zone to either an industrial C or commercial B zone.

Members of the board were Mr J. W. Kealy, S.M. (chairman) and Messrs C. H. Taylor, G. Tremaine, and W. F. McArthur.

Mr P. T. Mahon appeared for the appellant. The Riccarton Borough Council was represented by Mr E. I. White, and the Regional Planning Authority by Mr J. G. Leggait Nine residents in the area who objected to the appeal were represented by Mr

A. I. Cottrell and Mr H. W. Hunter.

Cyril Leonard Smith, a director of the company, said the property had been valued at during a recent valuation of the borough. “However, this was subsequently reduced to £17,250, presumably because of the residential zoning placed on the land,” he said.

The company had been established since 1928 and employed 45 persons, he said. “If the factory becomes a non-conforming use, it would mean we would be unable to make alterations or additions, and this would reduce our efficiency in competition with other manufacturers and could eventually lead to the closing of our business,” said Mr Smith. Russell Sarjeant, Town Clerk of Riccarton, said there was no land zoned tor industry in the borough north of Riccarton road. ‘The council views the area as predominantly residential,” he said.

The property in question was quite dose to the roundabout at Deans avenue and the continued existence of the appellant’s factory would interfere with the free flow of traffic in. Riccarton road, said Mr Sarjeant.

The council had received complaints from property owners in the area about noise, smoke, and dust nuisances emanating from the factory, he said.

Mr Sarjeant said Riccarton road carried an average of 17,000 vehicles a day, compared with Blenheim road’s

10,000. He conaMeved that by keeping the area a residential zone the traffic situation would not be aggravated. “Do you honestly consider it advisable to. build howes and raise children along such a busy road?” the chairman asked.

Mr Sarjeant replied that the residential zoning would tend to lessen the traffic.

The chairman: But what about the baker, the butcher, the rubbishman and all the other tradesmen who call in a residential area?

Mr Sarjeant said be personally would not build or live on such a busy road if be had a young family. "I feel it could result in a larger death-rate on the road,” said the chairman. "Do you think it would be advisable to build houses right next door to a hotel. Is this a suitable situation for a residential area?” he asked.

Further evidence was given by Charles Barclay Millar, director of planning for the

Christctumch Planning Authority. He considered it advisable to leave the drea as a residential zone.