Brighton zoning approved

Press, 19 June 1984, Page 7

Brighton zoning approved

A Christchurch City Council recreation development zone to allow the proposed oceanarium family restaurant, and tavern on part of the New Brighton foreshore should be confirmed, a special hearing commissioner has decided.

Councillors adopted the recommendation of Mr J. E. Ryan, a Christchurch barrister and solicitor, last evening. Mr Ryan had an objection to the proposed zoning from the Canterbury Landscape Group, which said that carparking should not be permitted within the 7300 sq m foreshore site, and that a substantial macrocarpa tree opposite the Brighton Mall should be retained. 4 Objectors also that

the zone size should be reduced.

Mr Ryan said that public car-parking was already a permitted use within the Recreation 4 zone which already covers the City Council’s stretch of the Pegasus Bay foreshore. He said the council had the opportunity to require an appropriate standard of car-parking areas associated with the commercial development, on the old Shoreline Cabaret and Brighton Pier site. The oceanarium complex was proposed by two Wellington companies after the council called for development ideas.

A zoning ordinance that required a tree to be preserved would be unique in

the council’s District Scheme and in his own experience, Mr Ryan said. He admitted that the tree was impressive in its foreshore position.

He had no doubt that the council would consider its Direct Scheme obligations regarding the planting and managing of vegetation on public land when it negotiated with the companies that wanted a development which would involve the tree’s removal.

The planning scheme’s structure did not provide for trees or other vegetation to be preserved by zoning ordinances.

Zoning provisions should not limit the council more than restrictions on developments of privately owned

land, said Mr Ryan. He disallowed the call for a smaller zone. Councillors last evening also set in motion procedures that could stop a length of Marine Parade legal road beside the proposed development site. The new road boundary would be at the back of the present footpath. The portion of stopped road would be amalgamated with the adjoining property and retained in council ownership. Two parcels of present legal road would be retained for their existing uses, while a third would provide part of the developement site. No part of the area of road to be stopped is fogged as a road.