Land not needed for housing

Press, 7 January 1983, Page 4

Land not needed for housing

Richmond Hill golf course land overlooking Sumner would not be needed for residential development for, about 20 years, the Planning Tribunal ’ has said in a decision on the dispute about using the land for housing. The hillside land has been used for a golf course since 1910. but its owners, the trustees of the estate of G. D. Greenwood, had sought zoning that would allow residential development. Although the Christchurch City Council had said that such zoning would be kept under rural zoning until the next District Scheme review in about five years, councillors had decided that the 19ha area could be included in a Residential Hills zone during that review. Both the Canterbury United Council and the property owners objected to that compromise decision. The United Council wanted

the property to remain within the rural green belt but the landowners wanted more immediate residential zoning. However, the Planning Tribunal has ruled that there is no need either for immediate or delayed 'residential zoning of the land. Tribunal members accepted evidence that showed there was enough land zoning for hill sections to meet the likely need for about 20 vears. Evidence of professional planners about Port Hills residential growth potential was preferred to “undemonstrated assertions" of demand for sections by a consultant for the landowners, the tribunal said. Although the tribunal accepted that the land was suitable and attractive for residential development, and that it had outdoor recreational value, members decided that the need for more

hill sections was the decisive issue.

No matter what the zoning. there was no assurance that the landowners would continue to make the property available for recreation." the tribunal said. “Neither the respondent (the City Council) nor any other public authority has taken any formal step to designate or acquire the land for recreational purposes." the decision said. The tribunal said that the Richmond Hill land's visual value to the city was "worthy of some weight in favour "of rural zoning rather than urban.”

The City Council had said that the recreational value of the golf course was acknowledged, but that use was a matter for the landowners and the golf club to discuss. Tussock, fairways, greens, and mature pine trees cover the golf course property, which is grazed by sheep.