City Scheme Outlined

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31828, 5 November 1968, Page 1

City Scheme Outlined

Christchurch city’s district planning scheme, covering 20 years but with some projections up to the year 2000, was officially notified by the first meeting of the new City Council last evening.

The planning scheme, much of which was outlined in a city development report by the council last year, makes changes in zones for residential, commercial and industrial use that have been in operation since 1962, and becomes a full scheme with the inclusion of plans for transport, parking and the preservation of historic places.

A major aim of the plan is to prevent the decay of the central city area. The residential zones are prepared to guide redevelopment and higher density housing closer to the city centre, and special provision has been made for the central business district, which the council recognises as the hub of the city and the metropolitan area.

Supermarkets and suburban shopping areas have been given special attention as developments since the days of ribbon development of shops

along the main tram or bus routes.

A move to encourage redevelopment of the heart of the city is the introduction of “bonuses" whereby the owners of new buildings can gain floor space by providing open ground-floor space or plazas or shopping courts. There is also a new provision for the height of city buildings. Re-design of Cathedral Square and pedestrian malls in Cashel and High Streets and New Brighton, as outlined in the city development report, are incorporated in the scheme.

The most important section is that dealing with transport and the reading system. Most of the moves—motorways, one-way streets, expressways and limited access roads—have been announced piecemeal already, but the scheme gives them definite standing. All the traffic and transport provisions have been designed to fit in with the master transport plan of the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority. The scheme has been presented in one volume, copies of which will be put in all public libraries and several suburban Post Offices as well as at the council offices. Copies of the book, containing the scheme statement, code of ordinances and planning maps, each with its own key, will also be sold at $2 each.

(Other reports, Pages 20-21.)