Board Reserves Decision On Straven Road Petrol Station

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31383, 31 May 1967, Page 11

Board Reserves Decision On Straven Road Petrol Station

The Town and Country Planning Appeal Board has reserved its decision on an application by Straven Services, Ltd., to have a petrol station and lubrication bay near the corner of Straven and Fendalton roads.

Yesterday the board heard final submissions on behalf of 87 private objectors, the Waimairi County Council and the Regional Planning Authority, who are all opposing the application. ft also heard final submissions from the company which first applied to the Waimairi County Council four years ago to move to the site which is almost 100 ft from the corner.

Since then the application bad gone to the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board, the Supreme Court, and back to the board. Modifications to the proposed layout of the station bad been rejected three times by the council and the Regional Planning Authority had challenged the application on the ground that It opposed petrol stations near corners. Pre-Built Homes At the same hearing the board reserved its decision on an application by Overlander Homes, Ltd., for conditional use of land in Sawyers Arms

road for building and assembling pre-built homes. The board will announce its decision on the application after inspecting the site, which is on North Canterbury Catchment Board land on the extension of Sawyers Arms road. The application is opposed by the Regional Planning Authority which claims that the proposed use of the land is not conditional and contrary to the regional plan. The regional planning officer (Mr K. Tyler) told the board that approval of the application would result in the creation of an isolated pocket of industrial development within a rural zone. He said the manufacture of pre-built homes had no essential connexion with or need to be sited in a rural zone. Such an industry in such a location would create a precedent and an attraction for other similar urban uses. The potential which was threatened could soon destroy the rural character of the area, promote close settlement and create a demand for services. Under cross-examination Mr Tyler agreed there was a rubbish dump opposite the site and that he knew of no farming activities close by. A director of Overlander Homes, Ltd. (Mr J. Gallagher), said his company

wanted to make homes on the site and transport them to different parts of Canterbury.

He said the company would be dealing mainly in farm houses and cottages and essentially with tiie fanning community. The company wanted the site to have easy access to the main outlets of the city from the north, south and west. The rite provided ideal access from Johns road to each of the major outlets from the city.

Hanmer Subdivision

The board also reserved its decision on an appeal by Mr A. V. Beattie, of Hanmer Springs, against the decision of the Amuri County Council to refuse him permission to subdivide his property. Mr Beattie told the board that his property of nearly three acres was suitably located for housing, had adequate water and sewerage disposal facilities, and commanded a good view of the scenery.

He said the land could be split up into 17 building sites all within a mile of the Hanmer Post Office. ,

The Amuri County Council had refused the application on the grounds that it was outside the proposed urban area and was unnecessary with so much other land for sale witbin the urban area.