BAN ON FLATS STILL STANDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 801, 23 October 1929, Page 1

BAN ON FLATS STILL STANDS

Town Planning Board’s Decision

CITY COUNCIL'S ACTION UPHELD

T lK^Zr° £ n Clt V CoU ' lcil iu banning the proposed 1 bachelor flats” in Vincent Street has been upheld bv the Town Planning Board, which met in Wellington yesterday. • The council has also won in respect of two other appeals also dealing with flats. It turned down a project to build a block oi flats in \ ictoria Avenue, Remuera, and refused to sanction the erection of shops in Walker Road, Point Chev- | alier, on an area zoned as a residential locality In both / instances the promoters appealed to the board.”

Advice of the board’s decision was telegraphed this morning by the Director of Town Planning, Mr. J. W. Mawson, to the town clerk, Mr. J. S. Brigham. The text of the message was as follows: “The following resolutions were passed by the Town Planning Board at its meeting yesterday: (11 Marlborough Mansions, Ltd.— That the board hereby determines that the determination of the Auckland City Council in absolutely refusing its consent to the erection of the building on the land in Vincent Street should be upheld on the ground that the projected building would not conform to the recognised and approved principles of town planning. Further, that the fore*oing determination of the board is not intended to imply that the erection cf a multiple family residential building upon the said site would necessarily and in any event be contrary to the principles of town planning, provided such a building were designed and placet' so as to afford to each residential unit compffsed therein an amount ot light and air space which the board might consider adequate. (2) Victoria Avenue Flats.—The appeal of Rita Evelyn Petrich. That the board determines that the determination of the City Council in absolutely refusing its consent to the erection of the building on the lands aforesaid should be upheld on the ground that the projected building would not conform to the recognised and approved principles of town planning, and would interfere with the amenities of the neighbourhood. (3) Walter Ernest Brian Dunningham and Frederick Coles Jordan (Point Chevalier shops).—The board upheld the council upon grounds similar to those stated in the previous case.

Invited to comment upon the decision of the Town Planning Board, Mr. T. Bloodworth, chairman of the Town Planning Committee of the City Council, said:—“l am naturally gratified that the board has upheld the committee. We will now be able to frame our by-laws respecting these buildings with more certainty than before. It should be now seen that there has been no unnecessary delay

on the part of tire council in trying to get the question settled, and that there has been no obstruction. I regard the ban on flats in Reiuuera as our best win,” he said. NO STANDARDS SET

The solicitor for Marlborough Mansions, Ltd., Mr. J. Osburne-Lilly, commented briefly upon the decision of the Town Planning Board. “We still do not know where we are,” he said. “This decision means that we are to assemble a number of people for their personal opinion as to the light and air space required in the building. “There is no standard laid down, and we are to take the personal opinions of 13 members of the Town Planning Board, all of which might differ.

“So far as we are concerned, we have done a great deal more than the City has asked us to do, and more than was asked of us by the by-laws issued by the Health Department.” A meeting of directors of Marlborough Mansions, Ltd., is being called immediately to discuss what further action may be taken to deal with the decision of the board.

HINT OF LEGISLATION MINISTER ADDRESSES BOARD Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. Addressing the Town Planning Board at the conclusion of its deliberations, the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister of Internal Affairs, who presided, expressed appreciation of the excellent work done throughout the Dominion and referred to the possibility of a Bill being introduced this session to amend the Act and stated that the question was at present under the conside # tion of the Government.