Garages in front yards

Press, 10 September 1985, Page 4

Garages in front yards

Riccarton residents may find it easier to get permission to have the garage of their choice in their front yard, after a decision by the Riccarton Borough Council’s town-planning committee last evening. In August a variation to the council’s District Scheme was passed allowing “accessory buildings” (limited to garages and swimming pools) to be put in front yards. Until then the scheme had excluded the siting of such buildings in front yards. The council believed that this requirement could have disadvantages, particularly if the yard faced north (to the sun). “In those circumstances it would be preferable to allow garages to be m the & yard P'? v “ ed ““P are designed m harmony Sth the dwelling a" d d ;» detract from the general street amenity.

But council officers investigating the effectiveness of the variation found that standards of garages built at the front of properties were not good. Consultations were held with the council’s townplanning consultants, Davie, Lovell-Smith and Partners, who reported to the committee that from observations those garages that were most successful and blended best were identical with the house in colour, materials, and roof pitch. Although no restrictions applied to designs and appearance for garages in other yards, the front yard had an element of public interest and therefore garages in the front should be of a much higher standard of appearance, they said. Both the consultants and council officers recommended that ordinances allowing accessory buildings in front, yards be clarified to

require exterior cladding and roofing to be of the same materials and colour as the house.

Cr Harman questioned the need to have the materials the same as those in the house. A concrete-block garage of the same colour as a weather-board house would look just as good as a garage of weather-board, he said.

Cr Warren said that it was posible to be overrestrictive about such things.

The committee resolved, on the motion of the Mayor of Riccarton, Mr Richard Harrington, that the building, planning, and roofing of a garage at the front of a property be of materials and colour compatible with the house. It should also be approved by the Borough Engineer, unless designed by a registered architect.