Urban Development ‘Stalemate’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31206, 2 November 1966, Page 12

Urban Development ‘Stalemate’

By adhering to its scheme of urban zoning the Regional Planning Authority was preventing development at Templeton. Mr J. U. Barclay, of the Paparua County Council claimed yesterday.

Mr Barclay said the authority’s policy was enforcing a stalemate as far as the development of small urban areas was concerned. He was referring to a letter from the council asking the Authority to approve a modification of the operative scheme affecting the Templeton urban zone to permit a subdivision of 231 sections. The letter said the council had for some time been concerned at the shortage of land available for residential development within the Templeton township. Inquiries had shown that there were no residential sections available at present. In view of this the council had approved a subdivision submitted on behalf of Mr A. S. Kyle. The council considered the letter said, that land should be available for residential development in rural town-

ships to allow for their growth into urban areas of sufficient size to permit the customary amenities to be provided and maintained economically. Mr A. T. Stevenson (Central Canterbury Power Board) denied the claim of the authority's director of planning (Mr C. B. Millar) that there were, in fact, 40 building sections vacant at Templeton and that the rate of development had been about two houses a year. Mr Stevenson said he had visited the area on Monday and found that none of the sections referred to was available. Mr Millar said it was considered that any attempt to amend the present zoning around Templeton in isolation, without regard to the needs of the area as a whole could result in conditions con-

flicting with planned associated services. He said a decision on this proposal should be delayed until the authority’s policy regarding the future development pattern of the region was determined. The council could be informed that it was hoped to have this information some time next year but no firm date could be given. The authority agreed to advise the council that the scheme would be deferred pending completion of the review of the first section of the regional planning scheme.