Planning Report “Not Justified"

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31236, 7 December 1966, Page 20

Planning Report “Not Justified"

The Commissioner of Transport (Mr R. J. Polaschek) does not think the standards laid down by the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority for petrol service station layout and location could be justified on traffic grounds, “although they may be very desirable.”

Writing to the authority, he said that in any submissions to the Motor Spirits Licensing Authority he would generally not recommend any departures from the Transport Department’s standards for petrol stations which were arrived at after considerable discussions with and considered reasonably acceptable by interested organisations.

Reporting to the authority yesterday, the executive said that the Commissioner had been advised-that the generality of his comment would not be acceptable to the responsible authorities, and he had been asked to provide technical evidence supporting his views. No reply had been received so far.

Objections The authority objected to two proposed garages and service stations—one at 264 Hoon Hay road, the other at 454 Papanui road. On the first, the executive reported that there had been a similar proposal for a site opposite the junction of Blakiston street and Hoon Hay road. There seemed to be no need for the establishment of

i two such facilities in such a short distance. If the first proposal was supported by the City Council an objection would be lodged; but if the two proposals were to be considered concurrently, the Hoon Hay road ite was considered more desirable.

On the Papanui road application, the executive said a garage and service station would result in an extension of the commercial uses fronting Papanui road, to the detriment of the road's traffic efficiency. It would also tend to encourage uses other than those appropriate to a residential zone, thereby prejudicing the long-term potential development of the area and encouraging non-residential uses and the associated higher levels of traffic generation. An objection was made to a proposal to use land at the corner of Harakeke street and Riccarton road for motorvehicle dealing. The authority had consistently opposed the type of application on Riccarton road as such a development would be detrimental on traffic grounds and could prejudice redevelopment of the locality the executive said.