TOWN PLANNING

Grey River Argus, 13 December 1940, Page 5

TOWN PLANNING

GREYMOUTH SCHEME Provisional Plan Published For many months past the Greymouth Borough Council’s Town Planning Committee, in co-operation with the Council’s officers, has been engaged on the preparation of a provisional town planning scheme for the Greymouth Borough, including Cobden. This plan, has now been completed, and was described ©T 3 public meeting held last evening, by Cr. F. F. Boustridge, chairman of the committee. Although parts of the residential area have not yet ' b->en classified, and all classifications JU’*’ as yet provisional, the plan prepared covers a wide area, and should be of absorbing interest to citizens, par ticularly in th e division of industrial and purely residential areas. Briefly, the areas are divided as follows;-• Special residential areas: That pari of the borough not specifically classified under other headings. General residential aren't Smith Street to Puketahi Street, half-way between Tainui and Alexander Street?, to Spring and Mount Streets; Blaimtown (not included in light industrial] area): to Grey River Hospital area and Cowper Street. i Local commercial are©: An area in Blake Street, Blaketown, two areas in Cobden, and two in the southern part of the town, including Hig>. Street south of Sawyer’s Creek. General commercial area: The whole of the business u.*ea bounded by Boundary Street east the Grey River, and Town Belt North, except some areas specially zom-d. Light industrial area: Nelson Street to Town Belt South, bounded tty Shelly Street to half-way between Paroa Road and Byron Street; Puketahi Street to Town Belt North halfway between Tainui Street and Alexander Street to Spring Street at the foot-,of the hill's to the east of the town area; two areas in Preston Road, and in Turumaha Street and Herbert Street south-east of the railway line; Cobden Quarry to the North Beach bounded by Nelson Quay on the one side, and half-way between Bright and Peel Streets. Heavy industrial area: The area covered by the Gasworks, Dispatch Foundry, Railway Workshops and running sheds; the area extending from Boundary Street to the Blaketown Lagoon, and bounded by the Grey River on one side and Preston Road on the other.

, Classification of Areas Under th 0 provisional New Zealand standard code of clause s for Town Planning Schemes, the following classifications are provided for the areas mentioned above:— , Special' residential districts: Dwelling houses, apartment houses of not more than two family units, semidetached dwellings, churches, libraries, art galleries, etc., and boardinghouses or hostels used in connection with educational institutions, parks, playgrounds, farms, market gardens, professional oilices, fire and power sub-stations, garages (erected on sii.es approved by the Council), with special limitation as to size and height. General residential districts:' All of the purposes for special residential districts; apartment houses, boarding houses, private hotels and clubs, hospitals (except for infectious disease), and buildings accessory thereto Local commercial districts: All of the purposes provided above; retail shops and auction rooms, professional and commercial offices, banks; oakeries, laundries, printing hou’.es, dyeing and cleaning works. General commercial districts: Wholesale premises,' warehouses, storehouses, blacksmiths, timber and coal yards, carriers and cartage contractors, cooperage works, ice making plants and stores, livery stables, machine shops, vetinerary and boarding kennels and hospitals, wholesale milk premises. Light industrial districts: Dor any purpose above described, and slaughter houses and abattoirs, coal and gas manufacturing, iron and steel foundries, cement-bag cleaning works. breWeries and malt-houses, storage of explosives, refining of petroleum, manufacture of creosote, paint, mis. shellac, turpentine oi' varnish, indiarubber goods, timber mills including sawmills, planing mills and factories (except cabinet making or joinery?, cattle yards, trades classed as offensive under the Health Act, 1920. Heavy industrial areas: For any purpose described-above, and for any purpose not otherwise contrary to law, save for purposes of dwellinghouses for human habitation except those necessary for accommodating caretakers or watchmen, and for any purpose the Council thinks fit. In all classifications, provision Is made as to the amenities to be provided for each building, size of sections, buildings and their construction, but the Council may, under tne code grant permits for buildings not classified in a particular district, provided no offence is permitted. With schedules etc., the code contains 38 closely typewritten foolscap pages.

Little Public Interest' . The Mayor (Mr F. A Kitchingham) presided at the meeting, which was attended by Crs. Boustridge, J. B. Kent, H. Herring, J. Anderson, J. Saunders, G. R. Harker, C. Neville, R. J. Williams, the engineer (Mr A. J. Fairmaid), Town Clerk (Mr F. H. Denton), and onlv six people. An apology was received from Cr. A. H, McKane. i The Mayor said that the meeting was being held to inform the public of the progress made as to the scheme. He was the chairman when it was first set up, being succeeded by Cr. A. H McKane, and since 1935 Cr. Boustridge had been chairman. Cr. Boustridge explained the means of town planning and effects of the scheme as prepared by the committee. It meant in "a" broader sense how they would remodel their own homes to suit modern requirements. In old towns business premises were in existence, and it would be impossible ’for any council to force them to move to other areas except for grave' reasons. They wanted to develop Greymouth so that heavy industry would be in the ;mo3t advantageous positions, and to preset the beautiful homes in residential areas from having industries or offensive trades being places in their vicinities. Every business area was improved by its congestion or centralisation. Mackay Street was the present big shopping area, whc»r e rents were highest in the town, because

business peopl e recognised the better opportunity of congested business areas. Therefore, business areas should not be allowed to spread till over the town. Town planning was (o restrict the business areas In light industrial districts were confined small business not of offensive natures. Councils were bound' to provide a certain amount of recreational space, and the Council desired to Exceed the legal requirements a- tn space. They had to provide more spaces for future recreational purposes, but they had to be reserved in the meantime. In the scheme were som e of the plans laid down by the Council ten years ago. It was a progressive scheme, not involving a great dead of outlay. It was a guide which, with criticisms and help, could b P to the advantage of every ratepayer. In trying to do- that they were not trying to please everybody, but to suit the greater number m the people. Th e Council had numerous requests for permits to build all types of buildings, some of which not conform to town planning. He had been refused because they did would not suggest that the job was anything in the nature of perfect. The committee had done its best to produce a good job, and they would welcome any criticism which the public cared to give. The idea was to plan Greymouth to the greatest advantage of those living in the town. After an explanation of the scheme by the Chairman of the Town Planning Committee (Cr. Boustridge), those present freely discussed the scheme, and several questions were satisfactorily answered. The chairman and the Mayor, Mr F. A. Kitchingham, extended the Council’s thanks to those of the general public who had availed themselves of the opportunity to discuss the scheme and to the members of the committee who had assisted to bring the suggested map to its present stage. It was emphasised that the map was by no means complete, and in many ways minor alterations would be necessary before the whole of the Town Planning Scheme would be finally adopted, prior to which every opportunity would be extended to the public to discuss the various proposals.