Application For Motor Facilities In Kaiapoi

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31279, 27 January 1967, Page 14

Application For Motor Facilities In Kaiapoi

Two applications for approval of the conditional use of land in Kaiapoi were heard by the town planning committee of the Kaiapoi Borough Council. The committee comprised Councillors R. L. Wylie (chairman), W. E. Bell, J. A. MeKenzie and Mrs F. J. Clemmett. It will make recommendations on the applications to the meeting of the council on February 13. The first application was to use premises at 8 Main North road for an automotive electrical retail showroom and workshop by Wooff and Salvesen, Ltd. (Mr I. B. McNeil). The Regional Planning Authority objected to the application. Mr J. B. Macfarlane, the the general manager of the company, said it was intended to use the site for the retail and wholesale distribution of electrical and fuel injection equipment and spare parts. Present facilities in Kaiapoi were inadequate for this work, and it was essential they be provided. Every other city and major town in the South Island had a similar service, and there was no intention to use the site as a service station and garage.

For the Regional Planning Authority, Mr K. Tyler said there was no reason why such an industry should be on a main highway in an area to be zoned commercial. It would hamper the commercial development of the area by dividing the available shop frontage in the block. The other application was for approval of the conditional use of premises at 11 Main North road as a garage and service station by Mr D. J. Clark, on behalf of a company yet to be formed. Objections were lodged by the Regional Planning Authority and Higgs Garage, Ltd. (Mr J. R. Woodward). Mr Clark said the population of Kaiapoi would increase one and a half times in the next 15 years and there could be no objection to the selection of a site which complied with every requirement. Mr J. Higgs objected to a new site on the same side of the road as his own garage and service station, and 200 yards south along the access road to Kaiapoi. "It is bad planning to permit the concentration of one particular facility in one particular area,” said Mr Woodward. “In Christchurch there is a service station to every 3000 residents and the success of the application will give Kaiapoi sufficient for 15,000 people.”