Ashburton Courier: November 05, 2020

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, November 5, 2020
3
Rule change to boost town’s CBD
LINDA.CLARKE
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Left:Ashburton’s town centre
is in thespotlight.
The AshburtonDistrictCouncil
wants to change planningrules
to entice more shopsand
businesses backinto the town
centre.
The centralbusiness district
has been in declinefor a
decade, following the
introduction of new earthquake
strengthening laws for
buildings, amove to online
shopping and this year Covid­
19.
Areport to council says the
health of the town centreis
poor, there are vacantshops,
buildings needingrepair and
retail jobs havedecreased
while the number of office
workers have risen.
Council’s own district plan,
which does not allow for
businesses withafloor space
greaterthan 500m2 in the town
centre business Azone, has also
been citedfor arise in retail
shops in businessBand other
zones.
But achangeto the district
plan is beingproposed that
would remove the 500m2cap in
the town centre and impose a
greaterdegree of restraint on
activities in other business
zones.
The plan change will be
notifiedfor public consultation
in January nextyear, with
submission hearings in March
at the earliest.
Town centre landowners
were advised of the proposed
plan change at ameeting on
September 9.
Council’s report says those
with substantial commercial
offerings would be entitled to
seek that the status quo is
retained or amore liberal
zoningisapplied.
Mayor Neil Brown said
council was also spending$15
milliononcosmetic work,
including roadsand footpaths,
to make the CBD smarter and
enticepeople back.
Council’s district planning
manger Ian Hyde said the key
recommendation of an
economic report last year was a
need to re­establish the CBD’s
position as the economic, social
and community heart of the
district.
In an update to councillors,
he saidthe intention of the plan
change was to makeiteasier for
appropriate retail to be in the
town centre than anywhere
else. There would be
opportunity for people to seek
activitiesoutside the rules, but
it would be ahigherhurdle for
them.
Cr Stuart Wilson said council
had seen people continually
circumvent the current district
plan ‘‘through money and
barristers’’ and wanted to know
if the proposed changeswould
stick. ‘‘Will it be just another
case of someonewith money
coming along and overthrowing
it?’’
Mr Hydesaid the changes
would address thatissue and
that the existing rules
‘‘paradoxically’’ encouraged
developmentoutside the
businessAzone.
The changes would enable
appropriateretail and
commercialactivities in all
businesszones and discourage
or managethe adverse effects
of unanticipated retail and
offices in business zones B
(large format or big box retail),
Cand Dwhere these would
impact on the town centre.
Areport by planning and
resource management
consultants Planz saysthe town
centre has become increasingly
reliant on officers workers,
with 230 retailjobs
disappearing since 2006.
‘‘The concern is that without
redirectinginvestment back
into the towncentre, the
currenttrends will continue.
Leadingtoahollowing out of
the town centre, with a
decreased offer, alower
employment density and
reduced amenity.’’
It noted that 56 per cent of
store floorareas in the town
centre already exceeded
500m2,despite rules
precludingretail over that
level.
The plan change would not be
asilver bullet.Council’s $51.6m
civic centre, private investment
and overall district growth all
had roles to play in enhancing
the primacy of the town centre.
Ashburton’s populationis
expected to grow by 5800 in the
next two decadestoreach
40,500 in 2038.
HOTDEALS–BEDS & E-BIKES
Domino Trundle Bed
SPACE
SAVINGS
Back
in stock
TORINO 226’’E-BIKE
• Popular26’’EBike with step thru frame
• 5level pedal assistancefor easy
riding
• Throttle override foradditional
assistance
• 3in 1bed with
strong metal trundle
• Perfect forkids room
or extraguests
Was$1799
$
998 .00
WEEKLY $6.84
STEP-
THROUGH
Was$2795
$
2490 .00
GREATPRICE
SINGLE 188 X91
Was$1099
$
900 .00
WEEKLY $6.19
XCITY 24
KING SINGLE 203 X107
Was$1299
$
950 .00
WEEKLY $6.52
Acomfortable,ergonomic and well designed electric
bike with 24” wheels makes it suitable forsmaller riders.
• Pocket Spring Sleep System –
GreatsupportiveBed
• Dunlop Foams –For comfortthatlasts
• Ultra Fresh–Forallergy support
• NZMade
• Qualityassurancewith SleepMaker’s 5year
warranty
NEW24’’
FRAME
Themotor is set up foracomfortable
andrelaxed ride with both
pedal assist and thumb throttle
arrangements.Updated2020model.
Was$4490
$
4290 .00
Chorus Range
MEDIUM
COMFORT
5
YEAR
WARRANTY
AWESOME DEAL
DOUBLE 188 X137
Was$1499
$
998 .00
WEEKLY $6.84
WISPER WAYFARER
QUEEN 203 X153
Was$1799
$
1098 .00
WEEKLY $7.49
• High quality27.5’’E-Bikewith long
range battery
• Mid drivemotor with cadenceand
torque sensor
• Handwelded alloyframe –135kg
weightcapacity
Was$4490
$
4290 .00
WEEKLY $16.58
WEEKLY $28.35
All E-bikes are supported byalocal experienced E-bike technician
WEEKLY $28.35
*Normal credit criteria applies
2328464