Conditions For Shops In New Suburban Plan

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32351, 17 July 1970, Page 14

Conditions For Shops In New Suburban Plan

Disagreeing with the plans of Mr C. L. L. Smith for a shopping centre on his North Beach subdivision—which will create a new suburb—the Waimairi County Council last evening required that the centre should be laid out to its satisfaction. Doubts were also raised as to whether the centre was in the right place, or large enough.

Mr Smith had applied for a specified town-plan-ning departure to enable the shopping centre to be established in the Inwoods Road-Rothesay Road block, but councillors argued that more thought was needed on detailed planning for the subdivision. Cr I. Calvert, who moved that the shopping centre be laid out to the council’s satisfaction. said that more thought should be given to its location in relation to reserves and other amenities. As planned by Mr Smith, the subdivision would have no heart. “Inherent Dangers” Cr A. A. Adcock said that adequate provision should be made for at least 4000 children and teen-agers. There were inherent dangers in opening up a low-cost housing scheme. Provision should also be made for pensioners' cottages. The County Engineer (Mr A. J. W. Lamb) said it was not possible at this stage to appoint the location of such things as a kindergarten or Plunket rooms. The commercial site appeared to be in the right place. The town-planning committee reported that the town-planning officer (Mr R. M. Parker) had considered

the size proposed for the commercial block to be justified by the evidence, when the council heard submissions on May 13. But, the committee reported, Cr Calvert had pointed out that the six or seven shops proposed conflicted with experience at the Grampian Road shopping centre, which served about 600 houses, and it would appear that the proposals of Mr Smith were too small to serve 4000 houses. It would be too late, said Cr Calvert, to rectify the mistake by trying to find sites for more shops when the houses had been built. The provision of reserves had not been settled, and it should be considered at this stage. Council’s Conditions

Cr F. J. Aitken said that perhaps $lOO could be added to the price of each section to provide for community amenities. Cr R. C. Neville said the charge would not be legal. The chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) said that the Education Board had not settled on school sites. It might be prudent to call a meeting of the parties to try to get mutual agreement on over-all development. In granting the specified departure, the council ruled

that no shops should be built until at least 300 houses were built or being built, and that not more than three shops be built until at least 500 houses were erected or being built. Council approval of the shopping centre layout was required, and the subdivider was required to show on the development plan the location of proposed reserves, schools and other community amenities for the council's approval. It was also agreed to call a meeting of the parties. Community Amenities

On the motion of Cr Aitken, the town-planning committee was asked to consider an approach to the State Advances Corporation for .additional loans on houses or land to cover the cost of providing community amenities. He said that ommissions in Bishopdale planning, showed the need for care and foresight. The chairman (Mr D. B. Rich) pointed out that Mr Smith had the right of appeal. Mr Smith’s survevor wrote saying that the $lBB,OOO loan for the main storm-water outfall from the subdivision had been approaved. The subdividers were completing arrangements with the Drainage Board so that both storm-water and sewer contracts could be made. r