TOWN PLANNING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 25 November 1943, Page 4

TOWN PLANNING

NELSON-TAHUNANUI SCHEME PROPOSALS PROVISIONALLY APPROVED ZONING OF CITY AREAS A provisional town planning .scheme which has been approved by the Nelson City Council is now in the hands of the New Zealand Town Planning Board. It was in connection with the provisional scheme for the Nelson City and Tabunanui areas that Mr J. W. Mawson (Director of Town Planning), Mr R. G. Dick (assistant-Sur-veyor-General) and Mr R. A. Paterson (Government Architect) visited Nelson yesterday. Town planning is the art of controlling the growth of a town to achieve economic working and the preservation of amenities. In a complete town planning scheme much detailed work is necessary to provide for main routes of communication by road, rail and water, water, gas and electric services, recreational areas and other important facilities, as well as a scheme for rigid control of the use of land and the erection of buildings. The most important subjects which engage the town planners are the erection of buildings and the use of land —a very wide subject covered under the general term of zoning. When a city is zoned under a town planning scheme, areas are set aside for I various uses, and the type and density of the buildings which follow are set out in detail. For example, in an industrial area good general and detailed access over heavy type roading is necessary, water mains and sewers must be

large and electricity supply plentiful and reliable. SIX ZONES In a residential area living conditions must be kept as healthy and as pleasant as possible, air space and reserves provided, and the appearance of buildings controlled. Under the New Zealand Town Planning Act the following zones are usually provided—heavy industrial, light industrial, commercial, local commercial, general residential and special residential. In addition areas may. be zoned for farm lands or for other special purposes if necessary. From each zone certain types of buildings are excluded. There are practically no restrictions in heavy industry areas. Light industry areas would exclude such activities as iron foundries. Commercial and light commercial areas exclude both light and heavy industry but permit shops and garages. General residential allows hotels and boarding houses, flats and dwellings, while the special residential areas exclude almost all buildings except homes and two-family flats. NELSON PROPOSALS The proposed zoning scheme for Nelson reserves, the Port Hills, the Maitai River bank areas, Trafalgar street south and its surroundings, and the high levels near Nile street East as special residential. The general residential classification extends over most of the other residential areas of the city. The commercial area proposed provides a slight extension of that at present used for shopping, while light and heavy industries are zoned to lower Vanguard and Waimea street, Victoria Avenue and the Port. MATTERS OF PROCEDURE The scheme as it stands at present has been adopted provisionally by the City Council and is under consideration by the Town Planning Department cf the New Zealand Government. When approved by the department the proposals will be returned to the council. At that point the full proposals will be published and three months will be allowed for the lodging of objections by interested parties. All objections will be given consideration and then the scheme, in its amended form if any changes are considered necessary as the result of objections, will be finally adopted and become operative. The provisions of a town planning scheme override all existing bylaws and have the force of law. The general effect of the proposed scheme on the public is not intended to be onerous. The conditions governing subdivisions will be somewhat more stringent, and there will be some restrictions placed on the types of buildings erected in various localities. The scheme provides safeguards for property owners who suffer hardship and there is provision for' dispensations under special circumstances. However it is expected that the restrictions on buildings and industries in the various zones will improve the respective localities, and that the betterment, in general, will exceed any drop in values which might result from the restricted use of land. The value of the scheme may not be generally apparent for some years, but the authorities entrusted with the task of town planning and its development to include regional areas, are certain that it will become increasingly obvious that planning on the lines now suggested, is essential.