TOWN-PLANNING EFFECTS IN THE COOK COUNTY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22619, 23 April 1948, Page 4

TOWN-PLANNING EFFECTS IN THE COOK COUNTY

SAC. MINIMUM PROPOSED

First exception to provisional limitations on sub-divisions in the Cook County, adopted recently following a discussion with a town-planning officer of the Ministry of Woi'ks, was made at yesterday’s meeting of the Cook County Council, when a scheme of close sub-division of land in Valley road and Massey road, Mangapapa, was approved.

The council’s earlier decision had been to fix a general minimum of five acres for all future sub-divisions in the county, with provision for exceptions in which areas might be reduced to two acres. The sub-division submitted was the Town of Gisborne Extension No. G2, on the fringe of the present borough boundary, and contemplated the cutting up of the land in areas down to quar-ter-acre sections. Council’s Statutory Authority In support of the proposal for subdivision, it was submitted that the land lent itself to close sub-division, and that the owner wished to make a gift of building sections to other members of the family. When the matter came before the council the clerk, Mr. R. K. Gardiner, explained that statutory authority existed for holding up any subdivisional proposals which did not agree with the overall provisions of the planning scheme under consideration. Mr. R. Graham asked if the council was going to make the minimum subdivisional area only two acres? The clerk reminded the council that its own sub-committee on planning had agreed on a minimum area of five acres, with exceptions down to two acres. It seemed, however, that provision might be made for closer sub-division for certain areas contiguous to the borough. Mr. Graham: We are not tied down to the two acres minimum? The Clerk: The plan will be submitted to the council by the Minister of Works, and could oe adopted with or without modification, after opportunity been given for hearing objections. The plan could be further amended even after its adoption by the council. Mr. .1. R. Hair: Wo will have to be careful before we adopt it. Residential Areas Necessary The chairman, Mr. _E. H. Baker, agreed with the suggestion made by the clerk that certain areas might be designated as residential areas. He was prepared to move that the sub-division scheme before the council be approved, and that the planning sub-committee should meet again and consider what areas contiguous to the borough might be designated as residential in character, witii provision for _ sub-division down to quarter-acre sections. Mr. M. T. IJ. Hall stated that the council faced a “pretty big: problem,” and lie would like to hear some of the planning committee’s reasons for fixing the areas of subdivision.

The council must be careful in allowing close sub-division in the county. The Gisborne Borough Council could take double its present population, without extending its present boundaries. New Settlements: No Service “If we permit small sub-divisions in various places we will be bumping into all sorts of trouble,” added Mr. Hall. “We will have new developments cropping up where we cannot provide services for them. Gisborne is a most expensive borough to administer because it is scattered all over the place.” Mr; J. A. Eivers pointed out that the council had not yet received the provisional plan from the town-planning officers of the Ministry of Works. They could no nothing without the plan. The chairman maintained that the council should indicate what areas contiguous to the borough should be excepted from the minimum area provision in the sub-committee’s report. Mr. Hair reminded the council that a lengthy report from an officer of the Ministry of Works was to come before the council. He considered that it was too big a report, involving too many maior issues, to be dealt with at short notice. He suggested that it be considered at a later meeting, after members had had time to consider it. Case of Hardship Created Referring to the sub-division plan before the meeting, Mr. Lawson Field stated that the area was a natural one for such a scheme. Mr. J. T. Gordon: The application complies with the council's present bylaw? The clerk replied in the affirmative, and added that adjoining sites already had been sub-divided. In this case an application for a rehabilitation building loan depended on the applicant— a discharged servicemen whose wife had also served in the forces—securing title to a section which was included in a family gift plan. Mr. Baker: I definitely think that a case of hardship would be created if the council withheld its approval? In giving approval we should be doing what I feel we would have to do shortly in any case—to meet the demand for residential sub-divisions in areas contiguous to the borough. “He added that if the council maintained a minimum of two acres on subdivisions of county lands it would be creating a hardship. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr. L. Holden, the council signified its approval of the subdivision plan submitted, and further decided to hold a meeting of the whole council in committee to discuss the report of Mr. D. G. Porter, of the Ministry of Works, on the county plan,