Rural zones divided

Press, 22 February 1980, Page 4

Rural zones divided

In a proposed change to its. district scheme the Waimairi County Council has divided its rural zone into four classes. , The sub-zones are Rural H (horticulture), Rural G (general), Rural F (farming), and Rural P (protection). The chairman of the town planning committee (Cr I. Calvert) said that owners of existing houses in any of the sub-zones would be able to rebuild as of right in the event of a fire. Under the present scheme dwelling owners are subject to the “farming test.” This requires proof that the house to be re-erected is essential to the use of the land. 1 ; . People building or rebuilding hinside the 50 L.D.N. (Day; Night Level) airport

noise exposure contour established by the < Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, will have to insulate houses to keep noise levels in habitable rooms down to 55d BA and in other rooms down to 65dBA. Council .staff will take, noise level readings at proposed house sites .to determine amounts of insulation required, and to make recommendations on layout and construction techniques that will minimise noise. In the Rural H zone, applicants for homes will have to submit a farm management plan showing the amount of capital commitment. This was intended, to stop applicants .building a. house, on the pretext of its being essential to farming, .only to

put all the money into the house and not the farm, said Cf Calvert. This was a problem, particularly in the Marshland area. Conditions for the Rural H zone, on rural selling places for farm produce, increase the size of buildings to 30, sq m if the farming unit exceeds Bha. They also allow the sale of produce from plots on different titles owned or leased by the seller through .buildings on any one of the plots. Under the present scheme, building size is limited to 15sq m, and produce may be sold only from buildings sited on the plot growing it. No subdivision of plots will be permitted, except where they involve boundary adjustments, or amalgama-tion-of titles. In the Rural G zone, racing and riding stables, horse training, dog and pat breeding or boardings kennels, dog training establishments, greenhouses not relying on the soils of the Site, and factory farming, become predominant uses in the zone. At present they are conditional. . No replacement of houses will be permitted in the Rural P zone. The council approved the proposed changes at its meeting on February 20. They will be publicly notified this week, and a series' of public meetings will be held to explain' the proposals. Objections will be heard, and alterations may. be made. The council’s final decision will be open to apneal.before.the Planning Tribunal.