Council Approves Middleton Flats

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 18

Council Approves Middleton Flats

A block of three ownership flats at the comer of Kiltie and Reading streets, Middleton, which was the subject of a court action on November 25, was discussed by the Waimairi County Council last night.

The county engineer (Mr 1. Calvert) said that the builders, F. R. Cullen, Ltd, had been prosecuted by the council for a breach of their building permit, and were convicted and fined. If the council now approved the builders’ application for conditional use of the land, it would legalise an existing use which did not comply, but which could involve innocent parties to their detriment if the application was declined. The town planning committee reported that it had discussed the application in the light of creating a precedent as the decision could be used by other builders who might knowingly commit breaches, and be quite happy to pay a small fine.

The town planning officer (Mr M. Parker) said that the flats existed, and had not given rise to complaints. The council approved the application for advertising for objections as a conditional use in a residential A sone. Reserves. Reporting on the dispute with the City Council over plantation reserve land at Chaneys and Spencerville, the finance committee recommended that no purpose would be served in having another meeting The council disagreed, and it was decided to accept an invitation from the city for a meeting. Speed Limit—The traffic committee expressed surprise that the Automobile Association had asked for replacement of the 30 miles an hour limit in Annex road with a limited speed sone, In view of the fact that the road runs through the Sunnyside Hospital grounds. The council refused to remove the limit

Fire Station.—Cr. W. E. Cassidy reported that the Fire Board agreed that a fire station should be located at north Belfast The council set up a subcommittee to dikcuss the subject with the board. Mere Flato—As there is again a wetting list for pensioners* flats, the council decided to investigate buying land for future blocks. Parking—On a request from the Automobile Associa-

tion, it was decided to reply that the council planned to make off-street parking at an opportune time on the Avonhead road frontage of Burnside park. Warehouse.—The council supported an application by Mr L. N. Gregory for a specified town-planning departure to allow him to build a seedsman's warehouse in a residential zone at 294 Blenheim road. Industrial Land. The Catchment Board would make available 128 acres of its land, subdivided into five acre lots, for industrial sites west of Johns road, and would consider making more land available in Empire road, Belfast, the town-planning committee reported.

Supermarket—The action of the chairman (Mr O. C. Mitchell) in issuing a conditional building permit to Maurice R. Carter, Ltd. to build a supermarket and shops at the corner of Withells road and Merrin street was approved. Conditions are that the shops must not be occupied before a service lane, car-park, sewer and storm-water drainage are provided.

Dam Shops.—An application by G.U.S. Properties, Ltd. to the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board for permission to build a supermarket at the Ham and Clyde roads junction had been adjourned to enable the council to reconsider the commercial zoning of the area, the townplanning committee reported The council decided to ask the company to meet the committee to give its views on the area’s deevlopment Testing Station—To meet its share of the cost of a joint vehicle testing station to be used in conjunction with the Riccarton hornngh and Paparua county, the council decided to raise a loan of £24.000. The project is expected to cost £40.000, and the station will be at the Paparua county yard in Blenheim road. Bishopdale.—Publi» lavatories would be built as soon as possible at the Bishopdale shopping centre, the council decided.