TOWN PLANNING CODE

Southland Times, Issue 23839, 9 June 1939, Page 7

TOWN PLANNING CODE

Provisional Scheme For City REGULATIONS FOR ZONING SMALLER BUILDING LOTS IN SUBURBS / • The adoption of the Provisional New Zealand Standard Code of Clauses for town planning schemes by the Invercargill City Council marks an important step by the council to regulate the development of the city and to supplement the zoning scheme adopted about two years ago. Although the scheme has not yet been adopted in its final form, the .Town Planning Act provides that in the meantime no building may be erected or work carried out which contravenes the scheme. The draft form of the city plan will be submitted to the Town Planning Board for provisional approval. The plan will then be returned to Invercargill and the council will advertise that it is open for perusal, and that any objections will be received and considered. Any objections will be considered by the council and commented on; and the objections, with the council’s comments, will be forwarded to the Town Planning Board. The board then will give its final decision which will be binding under the legislation. CONSTITUTION OF PLAN The elements constituting a comprehensive town plan may be enumerated as follows:— , Communications.—Streets, transit and transportation. Zoning.—The regulation of the use of land. ' Open spaces.—Provision of recreational facilities. Preservation of amenities. Zoning is probably the most important element of a town planning scheme and it provides for three kinds of regulation: (1) The use of land and buildings; (2) the height of buildings; (3) the size of lots, the size and arrangement of buildings upon lots, and the open spaces about such buildings. Under the zoning provisions, the city is classified into the following; districts: (a) Special residential districts; (b) general residential districts; (c) local commercial districts; (d) general commercial districts; (e) light industrial districts; (f) heavy industrial districts. The various parts of the city z are zoned for the purposes to which they 1 are most suited. This control will, for instance, prevent the establishment of an industrial business within an area set aside as a residential or commercial district. SPECIAL RESIDENTIAL AREA By far the biggest part of the city is zoned as a special residential district in which area are permitted dwelling houses, apartment houses containing not more than two /family units, churches, libraries and other buildings; also farm lands and market gardens. In this area all buildings must be set back 20ft from the street frontage; five feet from the side boundaries and 15 feet from the rear of the section, and their height must not exceed two and i a-half stories, thus ensuring ample sunI light and ventilation for each dwelling. General residential districts closer to the centre of the city provide also for apartment houses, boarding houses, private hotels and other buildings, not more than three stories high. COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS Local commercial districts provide for suburban shopping centres, and also for offices, banks, bakeries, theatres and licensed hotels. The general commercial district is the main shopping area of the town where buildings up to eight stories high may be erected. Industrial districts are usually remote from residential districts and adjacent to railways and transport facilities, and in this area are grouped chiefly manufacturing businesses, foundries and other buildings. To preserve the amenities of any district power is granted to the City Council to refuse a permit for any building where the external' appearance of the building would disfigure the locality and tend to depreciate the value of adjoining properties. Powers are also given to prevent the erection of big advertising posters and signboards. Where trees are considered to be of sufficient ornamental value, a register shall be kept of such trees and their destruction will not be permitted, but it is not intended that this shall apply to all trees in the city. NO EXPENSIVE SCHEMES The adoption of the town planning scheme for Invercargill does not commit the city to any expensive schemes of development. In general the streets are well laid out and little alteration will be necessary. Concerning land subdivision smaller building lots will be permitted in the suburbs, the minimum requirements being 20 poles as against 26.6 poles previously, but the necessary frontage of 44ft remains practically the same. The scheme applies to Ml buildings and property throughout the city but certain powers are granted for dealing with properties that already are developed or partly developed. Full compliance with the regulations is necessary, however, for all properties not built on at present. For several months the Town Planning Committee of the New Zealand Standards Institute has been engaged in the preparation of the Code of Clauses. The committed is representative of many organizations and departments including the Lands and Survey Department, Public Works Department, Town Planning Board, Municipal Association, builders and contractors, architects, and the bigger city councils, and it is expected that the Code they have decided upon will form the basis of all town planning schemes throughout New Zealand.