Service Stations Given Departures

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 12

Service Stations Given Departures

An application by Ross Raymond Templeton, a solicitor Mr J. G. Hutchison), of Christchurch for consent to a specified departure from the Christchurch district scheme in respect of land at 173 and 175 Wainoni road was granted by the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board yesterday. The applicant, on behalf of Lance James Hancock, a company director, sought the departure for the erection of a garage and service station on a site at present zoned residential A.

The board’s approval was given subject to the usual conditions relating to siting of buildings, landscaping, hours of business and nuisance, and the special condition that a building permit be applied for within two years.

The chairman of the board (Mr J. W. Kealy, S.M.) said the applicant’s case came close to the borderline but on balance the evidence was in his favour. The other members of the board are Messrs W. F. McArthur and E. Whittleston. Hancock said in evidence that he and his son-in-law, Bevan Keith Adcock, a qualified mechanic, were preparing to form a company to take over land at 173 and 175 Wainoni road to establish a garage and service station. Miss Nancy Northcroft, a town planning consultant, of Christchurch, said in evidence that in her opinion a service station on the land concerned would be in the public interest . The number of houses and resident cars had increased and very substantial future increases could be expected. Herbert Armit Scott Cook (Mr N. W. Williamson) the main shareholder in H. A. S. Cook, Ltd., garage and service station owner, of Wainoni road, the only objector, said in evidence that his business, on the corner of Bickerton street, was only half a mile from the proposed new service station. It was able to cope with the demand and a new station would be against the public interest. “Although the population in the area has increased I am sure there is no need for a further garage and service station,” he said. "If there was I would expect there to be an excessive amount of business for our service station and garage at present. This is not the case.” Cross-examined bv Mr Hutchison, Cook said his objection was on the ground of possible competition, not on the ground that it was against the public interest. Mr P. G. Hutchesson, appearing for the Christchurch City Council in support of the application, said it was clearly in the public interest that a service station be established in the locality. Supporting evidence was given by Ronald Marsh Critchley, town planning officer for the council. Millar Bros., Ltd. (Mr G. S

Brockett) was granted a specific departure from the Waimairi County Council district scheme to allow it to build a workshop in Withells roaq as part of a service station for which it had previously obtained a building permit.

The applicant said it considered no injustice or loss would result to neighbouring properties. The addition of a workshop to the service station would not detract from the enjoyment and use of the residential properties. The application was opposed by Suzanne Vanita O’Keefe (Mr A. R. Cottrell), who owns and occupies property next to the proposed service station at 196 Withells road. She said there were five other workshops within a short distance and another in the area was unnecessary. She was also concerned about possible noise and general commotion associated with the business.

The application was granted subject to the workshop being used only for light running repairs, not including panel beating or spray painting. Other conditions included the keeping of noise to a minimum, provision of offstreet parking facilities, restricted hours of business and approved signs. Mr J. G. Hutchison appeared for the council in support of the application.