NEW BYLAW

Evening Post, Issue 36, 12 February 1935, Page 3

NEW BYLAW

SEMI-DETACHED HOUSES

LOWER HUTT TAKES ACTION

In order to meet a growing ■ demand for small houses in\ Lower Hiitt the practice:of. building.two houses on. one section, the houses /being divided by a concrete or ■ brick wall, is increasing. Protests against the practice have been made by residents, and the question of prohibiting the' practice was brought before the Borough Council by Councillor W. Wilson some months ago, with the result that an amendment to the building bylaw - was introduced by Councillor- A. -Anderson last evening. The. amendment: declares that ''no tenement building shall be erected on any piece or parcel of land having a frontage of less than'6sl feet and a minimum depth of 75 feet and an area of less than 30 perches, and any tenement building above single-storey height shall be erected entirely in brick, stone, concrete, or other approved ' fireproof materials, and provided with adequate means of escape from.fire as approved by the Borough Engineer, or Borough Inspector. Section2l3 is repealed.": The amendment is to: be submitted for confirmation at an ordinary meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council on March 11. Councillor Anderson said the effect of the amended bylaw would be to prevent two.houses -being built on a section of less size than 65ft frontage, with'a depth of 75ft and an area of 30 perches. It also provided that semidetached houses of more'than one storey would have to be built of fireresisting material. : ' : ■ •"■ Councillor Wilson said, he would nave liked to see the council go further and prohibit the building of such houses except in stated localities. It was true that people had purchased sections in the business, area which were now difficult to use, and such houses might have been allowed there, but they should 'be prohibited in other areas. ' -;' " ... ..- -:. • -;.- '.'■.-■■ ■■ ■ The, Mayor-said. the: committee had found difficulties in the zoning system. • ' Councillor j.G.; Napier said it was unfair to allow, the houses in- certain localities and not in others.' '" , -Councillor :C;;..J/.,Ashton- said. :th^t tenementhouses.werenbt desirable;:no one wanted a;block of'flats in residential areas.. • Councillor B: : Ginger asked that more time should be given to the consideration of. the" .'-question1.. --..•' . Councillor .Anderson^: pleaded for immedia.te action.; The present practice, he said* was very undesirable; and if the council .did not take immediate action applications would pour in He was_ not blaming . the speculative Duiider, but the council should not be governed by the speculator, and: it would be a sad day for - Lower Hutt if action was not taken. The motion was adopted.- • A