Planned den will not disturb, hearing told

Press, 24 June 1983, Page 4

Planned den will not disturb, hearing told

Scouts and guides using a proposed den in the grounds of Kendal Avenue School would not disturb neighbours, a Waimairi District Council planning hearing was told yesterday. An A-frame building had been designed to minimise shading on adjoining houses, said Mr Jonathan Balcar, for the Roydvale Scout Group den committee.

The den, if granted a council building permit, would be a permanent base for the activities of 200 children. Displays could be set up and equipment stored. At present, group leaders stored many items in their homes, Mr Balcar said.

Two objections to the application were received. The objectors, both residents of Cranbrook Avenue, were worried about possible noise and vandalism from the den and the impact of the building itself.

Waimairi’s assistant planner, Mr B. R. Croad, said, “The building has been designed and its internal uses arranged with regard to achieving compatibility with residential neighbours.”

No windows faced properties and the den was insulated. If the users’ activities were restricted to the building and the school’s playing field, noise should not be a problem, said Mr Croad. He recommended to the hearing, with Cr F. S. Blogg acting as commissioner, that the den be built. Planting could further screen the den from houses, and fences 2m high should be built at each end, he said. Mr Croad also said the building should be no closer than 2.1 m from the boundary and that the district engineer should be consulted about its construction and painting. Decision on the application was reserved.