LAND TENURE INQUIRY ON SHOP SITE AT HATEPE

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 56, 20 July 1965, Page 1

LAND TENURE INQUIRY ON SHOP SITE AT HATEPE

The Taupo County Council will inquire into the legal position of land tenure at Hatepe before making a decision regarding the replacement of the store there which was recently destroyed by fire. The council had before it a letter from Mr W. Forsyth inquiring as to the council's attitude toward the re-establishment of the store, where he wishes to

provide grocery, post office and petrol faeilities. The shop which was destroyed operated as a nonconforming use, the zoning of the whole of Hatepe being residentlal. It was suggested that a shop for the sale of groceries and dairy products could be allowed as a conditional use, but this omitted the post office and petrol selling functions which were necessary to make the business economic. Rural zoning would permit, as conditional uses, a country store and service station. A specific departure from the district scheme by way of a spot rural zoning of the site could be applied for. The county engineer, Mr G. B. Burton, said he thought the principle of spot zoning wrong. He suggested that the National Roads Board should also be asked to give an opipion as to segregation of traffic, as the site was on State Highway No. 1, and that it would be advisable to refer the matter to the council's planning consultants before making a decision. Cr R. D. Tremaine reminded council that no persons had any legal title to land in the Hatepe area and suggested that legal advice be sought, which was agreed.