WIDTH OF STREETS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 5, 4 December 1928, Page 6

WIDTH OF STREETS

DANGER OF PRECEDENT. APPLICATION FOR NEAV STREET. An echo of the anomaly which recently arose through conflicting views held ‘by the Public AVorks Department and the Director of Town Plannmg on the width of roads was heard at a meeting of the Borough Council last evening. Messrs Oram and McGregor wrote with reference to the construction of the 60 foot street through lot 22, section 285, and asking that the following resolution be passed for transmission to the Public VVoiks Dpartment, and further asking that particulars be forwarded to the Director of Town Planning in order to obtain his consent to the subdivision: “As the configuration of the borough is such that within the particular area affected it is difficult or inexpedient to lay, off streets of the width of bo feet as required by the Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, application be made to the Governor-General by this council for an Order-in-Council autfioiising the council to permit the laying off of a street through lot 22 of section 285, town of Palmerston North, of a width of 50 feet as shown on the plan submitted. ~ Cr. Tremaine considered that the term “configuration” could not lie applied as a reason for not adhering to the requirements for a 66 foot road. Stating that he was thoroughly conversant with the position, Cr. Canton moved that the application be granted. Cr. Hodgens: 1 agree with Cr. Tremaine, but I do not want to place any obstacle in the way of laying out the road. Cr. Tremaine: Neither do 1. “Does not this mean that ,in future we are committed to agreeing to 50 foot streets?” asked Cr. Eliott, who added that they should be careful not to establish a precedent. The borough engineer intimated that a 66 foot street was not necessary as the road was not a through one. Cr. Eliott considered that the use of the word “configuration” was an excuse for allowing a narrow street to be luid down. Another aspect of the matter was that, when residents desired to plant trees in the street, they would interfere with the pow'er lines. “I think that it is a retrograde step to grant streets less than 66 feet wide,” said Cr. Clausen. “What of the future? I think it is a mistake, and there appears to be ample space in the locality for a full width street. Cr. Fitzherbert considered that no exception could bo taken to the wording of the resolution. Cr. Eliott: AVliy do they want 50 foot streets. -

The borough' engineer replied that all people subdividing were seeking to take advantage of the Town Planning Act. In the particular case under review the property had already been subdivided. The street would never be a main thoroughfare and was in purely a residential area. On the motion of Cr. Hodgens, the council decided to request from the borough solicitor an interpretation of the wording of the clause to which exception was taken. The Public AVorks Department forwarded copies of Orders-in-Councils authorising the laying off of streets in the borough of a width of less than 66ft., but not less than 50 feet as follows:—(a) The street constructed through pt. lot 15, sections 243 and 244. Russell Stroet; (b) the property consisting of pt lot 1 and 3 of section 285. A copy was also received of an order-in-Council declaring James Street and the extension of Linibrick Street to be under the control and management of the council in terms of sub-section 4 of section 103 of The Public AVorks Act, 1908.