Backing for Johns Rd winery

Press, 4 June 1982, Page 4

Backing for Johns Rd winery

Plans to make and sell wine on-site from grapes grown at 432 Johns Road should be approved, the Waimairi District Council's town planning committee agreed last- evening. The committee recommended seven conditions on the approval, including the size of the winery, and that access to it and the retail area be from a side road On the south-west bounday, and not from Johns Road.

The hearings sub-commit-tee, which heard the application, felt the plans were so small in size and effect, that the District Scheme’s general development pattern would not be upset. As there was no provision in the District Scheme for a winery, the proposal was a true exception. The applicants, J. Baker and A. P. Whitehead, did not want to use access from the side road and sought to sell from Johns Road. Quantity and frequency of sales would be limited as the site could not produce vast amounts of grapes. ■ ; The council, however, was concerned about extra traffic on Johns road, and that a precedent could be set with

the application. . The side road access complied with District Scheme requirements for selling places. The committee also agreed that/the district scheme subcommittee ■ should look at providing for production and sale of wine from rural selling - places in the District Scheme review.

. The' committee chairman, Cr I. Calvert, said that the application was approved provided the applicants used the side road. Extensions Plans to put up another 22 units, an office and reception area, conference room, covered swimming pool, and toilets at the Commodore Motor Inn at 447 Memorial Avenue should be approved, councillors agreed. The committee accepted a hearings sub-committee recommendation of seven conditions on the proposal, including landscaping, and extra parking spaces. At present, the complex includes 64 motel units, lounge and dining facilities, and a reception-office area.

The sub-committee had been told that additions were

needed to cope with extra demand. Councillors felt the complex, which is close to Christchurch Airport would promote the area’s economic welfare by catering for tourists.

Cr Calvert said the applicants had made a very attractive type of enterprise. Sub-committee members had been very impressed .with the way the business was conducted. Church building A proposal to use part of a house at 17 Heathglen Avenue for church activities should be refused, the committee agreed. The applicant, Mr P. Lord, wanted to use the house for community support work, Bible studies, and prayer activities.

The hearings sub-commit-tee heard approximately 13 objections from nearby residents, concerned about possible noise, traffic, advertising. and devaluation of their properties. It agreed that alternative venues were available nearby. Provision was made in the District Scheme for

churches as a conditional use.

Cr Calvet said that the sub-committee had been sympathetic to the request.

Rugby club

An application by the Belfast Rugby .Football Club for new clubrooms adjacent to Sheldon Park, Belfast, would be recommended for approval to the full council, the committee was told. Five conditions were recommended for the proposal, which includes social areas with a bar, and reception and administrative rooms. Existing changing rooms, on the edge of the park, would be retained. Other local clubs would share the facilities so it would benefit a large section of the community, councillors were told.. The club's membership was about 800, drawn mainly from Belfast and Redwood.

The club's existing rooms, on the Main North Road, were old, too small, and did not have, enough car-parking, councillors were told. The new site was far superior to the present one.

Motel units

Plans by the Airport Lodge Motel, at 105 Roydvale Avenue, to build another six single-storey motel units would be recommended for approval to the council, committee members were told.

Bus shelter St Nicholas Hospital should be asked to remove a shelter used for its private bus, at 7 Kirkwood Avenue, the committee agreed. Councillors were told that the shelter was almost on the front boundary, with direct access from the road. No permit had been obtained for it. Building permits The council had issued 292 building permits, valued at S2.BM, last month, compared with 242, worth $3.3M, at the same time last year, councillors were told. Of thse, 20 were for new houses, 250 for additions, and 13 for commercial buildings. The average cost per house last month was $59,950 compared with $53,155 at the same time last year.