Zoning Appeals Adjourned

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31320, 16 March 1967, Page 20

Zoning Appeals Adjourned

The Town and Country Planning Appeal Board yesterday adjourned for three months the hearing of 10 appeals against a decision of the Waimairi County Council to rezone residential A the present commercial C shopping centre at the Memorial avenue * Fendalton road-Clyde road intersection for consideration to be given in the meantime to redevelopment plans.

The chairman of the board (Mr J. W. Kealy, S.M.), said the board was satisfied on the evidence that a relocation of the road appeared likely to be necessary in the interests of traffic.

“The board does agree with the bulk of appellants that this presents a general problem rather than separate problems of rezoning, realignment and relocation, and it should be looked at on this basis,” Mr Kealy said. “Best Suggestion”

“The best suggestion seems to be that all appeals be adjourned for three months, and that in the meantime the board asks the council’s townplanning officer (Mr R. M. Parker) to produce suggestions to be placed before the board and appellants for redevelopment of a commercial site in the locality. “An opportunity will be given for all parties to be acquainted with the suggestions. If land other than that the subject of the present proceedings is involved the next step will be to issue a preliminary finding and give the owners of other land involved a chance to be heard,” Mr Kealy said. The other members of the board were Messrs W. F. McArthur and E. Whittleston.

Mr J. G. Hutchison appeared for the council and Mr J. N. Matson for the Regional Planning Authority.

Evidence and submissions were heard yesterday on behalf of Self-Help Co-operative, Ltd. (Mr G. F. Rea>, C F. and K. C. Hart (Mr C. F. Hart), the estate of A. F. Mathews (Mr S. R. Dacre), and P. F. Bull (Mr R. J. de Goldi). The other six appellants were heard on Tuesday. Mr Matson, appearing for the authority in support of the proposed rezoning, said it was clear that the intersection presented a major traffic problem and the centre had

become untenable for shopping. The traffic count last year had been 17,000 vehicles a day and by 1980 it was estimated this would be 27,000 a day, with 50 a minute in peak periods. It was generally accepted that something would have to be done about the problem. Shops and shoppers brought more traffic, and it was with the object of reducing this traffic that rezoning was proposed. Supporting evidence was given by the authority’s regional traffic engineer (Mr M. Douglass).

In its' reply to the appeals the council said the road-wid-ening proposals were necessary to provide for the proper movement of present traffic and future increases through the intersection. The change of zoning was necessary to prevent the redevelopment of existing shops or any other commercial expansion thereby continuing and increasing difficulties of traffic movement "Unfair Criticism”

Mr Hutchison said there had been some unfair criticism of the council during the hearing. The council had been concerned for Some time not only with the movement of traffic but also with the provision of an alternative shop l ping centre.

He said the council had not arbitrarily brought forward the present proposal,

but had considered possible alternative road routes which would by-pass the shopping centre.

Robert Maxwell Parker, town-planning officer for the Waimairi County Council, said that over the last two or three years the council had become increasingly conconcerned at the traffic congestion at the intersection. “Even at the present time there are periods of acute congestion because of the increase in population in the north-west area, the Christchurch Airport, and, very noticeably at times, the new university at Ham. “As the university continues to transfer its activities from the centre of the city to Ham and the north-west residential areas expand, great traffic pressures will affect this intersection. The council feels that it is proper to plan the intersection now, although work would not commence for probably at least five years.” Four Schemes Mr Parker said the council had considered four possible schemes, and had decided on the present proposals because it gave good traffic movement. Although it required the removal of all the shops on the north side of the intersection, those on the south side would be able to remain as existing non-con-forming uses.

“The council believes that commercial zones should not be permitted at an important intersection such as this one, and for that reason has proposed to substitute a residential for a commercial zoning on all corners. “The council recognises that its proposals will ultimately destroy a long-established shopping area, but it feels that the future proper planning for this part of Christchurch is necessary. It appreciates that provision will have to be made for other shopping facilities in the vicinity but, although this is receiving study, it cannot be thoroughly considered until the council knows whether its amendment to its scheme has been upheld.” Granted An application by Bowler Investments, Ltd. (Mr W. A. Wilson) for a specified departure from the Riccarton Borough Coundl’s operative district scheme in respect of one acre and a half of land in Mandeville street was granted by the board. The application was made to allow the company to erect buildings on the site to provide tourist reception and accommodation facilities for letting on a long term to Trans Holdings, Ltd.

The council (Mr E. I. White) did not oppose the application, and there were no other objectors.