Thumbs down for Shirley shops

Press, 24 April 1979, Page 6

Thumbs down for Shirley shops

The Christchurch City Council has blocked plans for a significant shopping centre expansion in Shirley.

Part of the Woolworths | development between Marshland Road and Golf Links Road would have been in a Residential 1 zone, and carparking for the expected development has already been provided. Other land has also been cleared for the expansion. A “Big W” Discount Store was planned by the company, as was an extension of the present supermarket. A garden centre would have been completely within the residential zone. ’ The company still has the right of appeal against the council’s decision at its meeting last evening to deny a specified departure for the development. Woolworths had mounted a big public relations campaign to have its project accepted by a hearing committee. Councillors also approved a district scheme change that will make it harder for commercial centres to put car-parking in adjoining residential areas, perhaps in a bid to head off such controversies as last year’s Merivale Mall debate. ,

In the Shirley hearing, central business district interests had protested about allowing too much expansion of suburban centres at their expense. The hearing committee said that it was not part of the council’s function to protect established businesses, but added that the city centre’s future health was a community concern. An expanded shopping centre “would seriously detract from the amenities of the adjoining residential area,” the council said, because of increased traffic. It would also affect the profitability Of other shopping centres in Christchurch. The district scheme would have to be altered, because the project would extend the commercial zone, and Woolworths had failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances to justify this. Under the commercial carparking scheme change, specified departures will be required for any proposal in a Residential 1 zone. Condi-tional-use procedures will have to be followed in other residential areas next to commercial and industrial zones. That change was opposed by three big commercial property developers — Foodstuffs, G.U.S. Properties, and Woolworths.

The hearing committee said! that special car-parking | zones could be considered as! part of the scheme review, so that the proper siting of such land uses would be set out well ahead of their construction. In another decision, the council said that Hutchinson Enterprises, Ltd, should be allowed to expand its Colombo Street motor vehicle dealership into Residential 4 land between Walton Street and Huxley Street. iHowever, a “definite and final line” emphasising the zone boundary would have to be drawn, partly through construction of a I.Bm high wall along the boundary to separate the garage from' houses. Extensive boundary landscaping will also have to be done. . More help The New Zealand Lottery Board has granted another $50,000 to the Pioneer Sports Stadium in Centennial Park. The board has now contributed $lOO,OOO to the stadium. The council will not have to rely so much on cash in lieu of reserves money because of the grants. Enrolment

Local government voter enrolment forms could be simpler, councillors said. Cr D. C. Close said that the present ones required too much detailed information. All members of a household should be able to register on a single form. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Highet) will be asked to study amending legislation to make different forms possible.

Interest rates New local body loan interest rates will not affect the council much this year — the loan servicings lost will be up about $36,000 — but will mean an added cost of about $140,000 in the next financial year.

The higher rates were deplored by councillors. Cr P. J. R. Skellerup said that the effect was “disastrous” for persons seeking mortgage finance.

Local government was in such a powerless position that it could not even influence its own loan interest rates, said Cr Vicki Buck. The Mayor (Mr H. G. Hay) said that he believed the move was to cause a more flexible money market in which interest rates would move rapidly, and the new rates could be shortlived. However, the policy would make local bodies think twice about public-works spending.