Objections to Wood Lane town houses

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33857, 31 May 1975, Page 16

Objections to Wood Lane town houses

Granting a conditional use application to allow the erection of eight town houses on a site at 3 Wood Lane, Fendalton, would be the thin end of the wedge in allowing a greater residential density, a Waimairi County Council sub-committee was told yesterday. J

Mr G. H. Gould, appearing for three objectors to the application. said that the Waimairi district scheme allowed 30 people an acre, hut the proposed development would create a population density of 54 people an acre.

If the application was granted the way would be open for the entire nature of the area to be changed to one of a higher population density. Fendalton would be subjected to greater pressure of this kind than any other part of the county.

Mr Gould said that the objectors were also unhappy with the appearance of the ] proposed town houses and' described them as being unimaginative and boxlike They felt something much more attractive could have been produced. The objectors were Professor G. L. Rolleston. Mrs N. McCormack and Dr P. B. Mating, all of Wood Lane.

A Mr A. Hearn, for the applicant company of Fletcher Development. Ltd. said that all the requirement fo. a Residential A zone were met by the proposal except for possibly the density factor. Density was not mentioned in the Residential A ordinances, it was merely contained in the scheme statement.

The 2 rood, 16 perch site was bounded on two sides by the River Avon and had ■ on it some fine trees, including a large Turkey oak, said Mr Hearn. If the section was subdivided the oak would occupy the area of a separate residential section. TOWER WANTED The architect for the scheme, Mr C. N. Armstrong, said that he had recommended a tower block for the site b t th? applicant company decided to proceed with town houses. He said the 1200 to 1300 sq. ft houses would have three bedrooms and double garages and would be in blocks of four stepped against each

other. Nearly all the existing trees would be retained. Professor Rolleston said that the design submitted did not. in his view, have a great deal of merit, but town houses would be preferred to high-rise apartments. The matter in question was number and appearance. The sub-committee (Mr D. B. Rich and Crs E. L. Bonisch and H. M. Tait) reserved its decision.