Victoria St closing plan adopted

Press, 30 September 1983, Page 1

Victoria St closing plan adopted

The proposal to close Victoria Street to traffic through Victoria Square and confirm part of the street as a commercial zone has taken a step closer to becoming a reality. At a special meeting yesterday, the Christchurch City Council adopted the recommendation of its hearings panel to close the legal section of the street between Kilmore Street and the vicinity of the Floral Clock. Victoria Street and Oxford Terrace south of the Avon River are not legal streets, the land being vested in the council as an estate.

Subject to the street closing being confirmed, the council also adopted a recommendation to confirm that section of the street as a commercial zone. The council wants to open up the north-west quadrant of the Victoria Square block for commercial development, with car-parking possibly incorporated in an international hotel project. The proposed development will now go before the Planning Tribunal for a final decision. Several councillors hoped that the tribunal would make a decision on the issue before Christmas.

As the proposal to close the street comes under the Local Government Act, it will automatically go forward for consideration by the Planning Tribunal.

The confirmation of the land as a commercial zone comes under the Town and Country Planning. Act, which allows objectors a month to lodge an appeal against the decision. If no objection is received the decision of the council will be final and planning could then proceed. Both proposals drew 26 objections at the planning hearing last week. In its report to the council, the panel said it was concerned that some objectors did not present much evidence in support of their objections, stating that they •wished to reserve material for the Planning Tribunal.

“This made it difficult for the council to assess the

substance of those particular objections." the panel said.

Cr Mollie Clark said she was also concerned that some objectors “tended to short-circuit a very democratic process.

“I hope this is not the beginning of a trend and if so, it should be discouraged.” she said. The panel's report commented on many of the issues raised by the objectors.

It said the members accepted that the provision of adequate parking facilities to serve the central area was important.

Well located sites had been designated for parking. The panel said it recognised the need to retain carparking as one of the main functions of the site.

Of concern expressed about the expected effect of increased traffic in surrounding areas, the panel said traffic volume would remain the same, the effects being “barely noticeable.” The report also commented on access, the impact on rates, cycle routes and safety, the effect on business, objections to the Commercial 3 zoning, visual aspects, and provision for pedestrians.

The three main reasons given by the panel for proceeding with the proposal were the improvements in the total traffic system, the implementation of a farsighted scheme to create amenities and beautify the city, and the provision of more car-parking near the Town Hall.

In conjunction with new traffic management, the council agreed to begin street scene improvements for the residential zone and to receive submissions on the plan from residents.

The street will not be closed until plans had been confirmed for additional offstreet parking.

The council also confirmed its commitment to provide a car-park for the Canterbury Public Library, parking for the Christchurch Working Men’s Club, and parking west of the Town Hall.