Timaru Tavern Appeal Allowed

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31016, 23 March 1966, Page 9

Timaru Tavern Appeal Allowed

An appeal by E. D. and J. H. McNeill against a Timaru City Council refusal to allow them to build a tavern on two acres of land bounded by Le Cren, Wilson, Meremere and West Church streets, Timaru, was allowed by the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board in a decision issued yesterday.

The application, for conditional use of the land, was opposed by the council and by nearby residents, the decision stated. The appellants held options over the land in question. To objections that the proposed tavern would lead to traffic congestion, the board said that it did not find these fears borne out by evidence. By comparison with Stafford street traffic, that in the streets affected by the proposal could not be described as heavy. An increase in traffic could eventuate, but the council could cope with it. As to claims that the tavern would detract from residential amenities, the board said that the council, in framing its town-planning ordinances to allow of taverns in residential zones, must have assumed the likelihood of homes and licensed premises being contiguous.

“It is, of course, for authorities other than this board to make the decision as to whether or not licensed premises are required in this locality,” the decision stated. “Though not without considerable hesitation, the board, has reached the conclusion that, from the planning aspect, the application is one which may be allowed, but subject only to stringent safeguards designed to preserve residential amenities, including provision for purchase, at a fair price, and if so required by their owners, of house properties which have a common boundary with the proposed tavern site.” The board directed that an arbitrator on such sales could allow up to 7i per cent extra to cover the “disturbance” factor. Entrances, exists, parking areas, boundaries and landscaping must meet the council’s approval.