AVONHEAD AREA

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30858, 17 September 1965, Page 12

AVONHEAD AREA

Shop Centre Proposed

Provision should be made for a major shopping area west of Avonhead road on a scale of about half the size of the Bishopdale centre, said the town planning officer (Mr R. M. Parker), in a renort to the Waimairi County Council last night. It was suggested that provision could also be made for flats, and a hotel or tavern. He said the survey had been asked for in view of the nroposal to re-zone the Fendalton road-Clyde road shopping area These shops provided a useful service, not only to nearby residents, but to the travelling public. “This service should be orovided in the near vicinity, but on a suitable site which would allow ample parking, and re-location of the existing shons,” he said. “However, such a site does not anpear to be available in a suitable location. The site towards Otara street would not be large enough to cope with the potential users unless valuable residential properties were acquired.”

Mr Parker said that with the future development of the county and the possible residential development to Russley road, provision should be made for a major shopping area on the west side of Avonhead road. This should be given urgent attention while land was available. This centre would serve some of the Fendalton customers.

Mr Parker also suggested the up-grading of the existing centre at Ham and Clyde roads, and that a small block of shops might be allowed on surplus land that would become available through the proposed deviation of Pukeko terrace.

Cr. R. C. Harrow said that a report should be prepared on re-zoning of Annandale street extension from residential A to residential B. This would allow multi-storey flats and a hotel or tavern to be built. Cr. W. T. Rice opposed the tavern proposal. The council should not encourage drinking shops. “I thought a tavern was everything a hotel was, without accommodation,” said Cr. A. E. Wagner. The clerk (Mr A. MacLachlan) said the dictionary defined a tavern as a place for the supply of food and drink.

The council decided to have a report as suggested, and to ask Mr Parker to make a fuller report on shopping facilities.