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17. 12. 97
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
21 OCTOBER AND 4 DECEMBER 1997
Special meetings of the Parks and Recreation
Committee
were held on Tuesday 21 October and Thursday 4 December 1997
| PRESENT: | Councillor Gordon Freeman (Chairman), Councillors Carole Anderton (4 December only), Graham Berry, David Buist, Graham Condon, David Cox, Ishwar Ganda and Gail Sheriff. |
| APOLOGY: | An apology for absence was received and accepted from Councillor Anderton for the 4 October meeting. |
The Committee reports that:
PART A - MATTERS REQUIRING A COUNCIL DECISION
1. WASHINGTON RESERVE DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT PLAN
INTRODUCTION
At the May 1997 Committee meeting a number of deputations from the business community and skateboarders addressed the Committee regarding the proposal to develop a skateboard facility on Washington Reserve.
After considering the issues raised by the objectors to the development the Committee concluded that the development plan should be formally released for public comment for one month and that opportunity should be given for respondents to appear in support of their submissions and recommend to the Council accordingly.
The Council endorsed the course of action recommended by the Committee at its May meeting.
On Saturday 21 June 1997 the Council advertised its intention to develop a skating arena in Washington Reserve as described in the Washington Reserve Concept Development Plan. Comments were invited from the public with submissions closing on 25 July 1997. A notice board was erected in the reserve with plans and information about the proposed development.
A total of 71 submissions were received of which 44 supported and 27 opposed the proposal. In addition to this, the Parks Unit received 1164 signatures in the form of a petition in favour of the proposed skating arena at Washington Reserve. All members of the Committee were provided with copies of the submissions.
Both supporting and opposing submissions raised a number of issues which are listed below:
SUBMITTERS IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSAL
A wide range of people wrote in support of the proposal. Submitters included children, teenagers, parents and grandparents.
Two Community Activities Officers and one Community Board member supported the development of a skating facility at Washington Reserve.
Three businesses supported the proposal - two international companies and one local business which operates in Washington Way.
The manager of a local snowboarding magazine and an organiser of concerts and events for youth also support the proposal.
Submissions in support were also received from the Waltham Community Cottage (near the Waltham Park skateboard bowl) and from residents near the Bishopdale skating facility which has recently been extended.
A letter has since been received from the Safer Community Council supporting the proposed skating facility at Washington Reserve.
SUBMITTERS OPPOSING THE PROPOSAL
Submissions opposing the development of a skating arena at Washington Reserve were received from landowners and tenants of Washington Way and Gasson Street properties.
One submitter (a potential Washington Way lessee) from outside the area wrote in opposing the arena.
KEY ISSUES RAISED BY OPPOSING SUBMISSIONS
Other Issues (mentioned by only 1 or 2 submitters)
KEY ISSUES RAISED BY SUPPORTING SUBMISSIONS
Other Issues (mentioned in 1, 2 or 3 submissions)
MEETING OF 21 OCTOBER 1997
The submissions were heard by the Parks and Recreation Committee at a special meeting held on 21 October 1997.
Twelve submitters addressed the Committee in support of the proposed skating facility. Mr John Milligan, barrister, appeared on behalf of 22 submitters from the surrounding business community who opposed the development. In addition seven submitters from the local business community also outlined their individual concerns regarding the proposal.
Many issues raised by submitters in support and opposition to the proposed skating facility were reiterated at the hearing held on 21 October 1997.
Skaters appearing before the Committee stressed the positive nature of skate boarding and rollerblading and urged the Committee to recognise their recreational needs. Many stated that they believe the Washington Reserve proposal was a good one and that the sooner it was built the sooner skaters would leave places like Victoria Square in favour of skating on a purpose built facility.
A video was shown which described the positive spinoffs that facilities in the United States were having for communities despite all sorts of fear and opposition before the facilities were built. Dave Mollard from Slide magazine described skaters as creative, lateral thinkers who need activities to attract them and keep them busy. He also described how the Waltham Bowl is already famous overseas in the snowboarding circuit and talked about the economic benefits of the proposed facility at Washington Reserve to Christchurch.
Kerry-Ann McKenna showed her own video which demonstrated skaters using the Bishopdale facility and Victoria Square. She also showed Washington Reserve from the Waltham Overbridge and how noisy the site already is, due to its location next to the overbridge and Moorhouse Avenue.
A number of skaters believed it was unfair to enforce a ban on skating if there was no alternative. Community Activities Officer from the Fendalton and Linwood Service Centres urged the Committee to support the Washington Reserve facility and described the benefits they had encountered during their involvement in suburban facilities.
Submitters opposing the facility at Washington Reserve raised a number of legal and zoning issues which were referred to the Legal Services Manager for an opinion.
A planner, Miss Jane Whyte, also gave evidence, describing the surrounding environment as a business park, and concluding that the skating facility with its large area of land surfacing `having no relationship with its surrounding environment'.
Also before the Committee was a comprehensive report from the Parks Manager, prepared by Suzanne Weld, which analysed the submissions and responded to the objections raised by those submitters who opposed the proposal. The report concluded:
All submissions reflect concerns from both local businesses who believe they will be affected by the proposal and from local skaters and other interested parties who believe they are disadvantaged by the lack of an inner city skating facility.
Submissions received from local businesses state issues that would be expected from any neighbours that the facility might be located near. It is the Parks Unit's experience that similar concerns are frequently voiced when proposals such as this are put forward. This was the case with the proposal to locate a skateboard bowl in Waltham Park. The use of this bowl has presented very few problems and this has been backed up by the Waltham Community Cottage. Extensions to the facility at Bishopdale Park have also been very successful.
The Parks Unit believes that the success of the proposed arena at Washington Reserve will be due to its location on such a high profile site. Parking and security issues will be addressed by good car parking and lighting plans. Other potential problems, if they occur at all, can be assessed through the staged development of the facility and by increasing supervision if necessary.
Submissions from skaters and those supportive of the proposed arena at Washington Reserve stress the positive nature of the sport and the benefits that such a facility will have for youth and for Christchurch overall. The Washington Reserve Development Concept Plan is a concept which goes a long way in providing a recreational option for a group that is largely misunderstood.
The development of a skating arena at Washington Reserve is a positive initiative for young people in Christchurch and should be supported if the Council is truly committed to meeting the needs of all community groups.
MEETING OF 4 DECEMBER 1997
The Committee reconvened on 4 December for the following purposes:
In line with the recommendation contained in the legal opinion from the Legal Services Manager (attached) all submitters were given the opportunity to make further submissions on paragraph 4 of the opinion.
Five submitters exercised their right and were heard by the Committee at the 4 December meeting.
Three submitters supported the Legal Services Manager's view that the Council had not made a commitment to retain the site for passive recreation.
The remaining two submitters disputed this conclusion and reaffirmed their opinion that such a commitment had been made.
A written response to the Legal Services Manager's opinion was also tabled from Mr John Milligan who did not wish to appear at the 4 December meeting.
Mr Milligan submitted that the Council's actions in respect of the ultimate use of the reserve had been ambiguous.
DISCUSSION
The Committee noted the staff advice that the development proposed would provide a positive solution to the inner city skateboard problem and that if the plan is approved a hugely popular leisure activity for young people would be more adequately catered for. Assurances that the facility, which has been designed in consultation with skateboarders and other local authorities experiencing similar difficulties, will be of a high standard and quality were also noted.
With regard to the concerns regarding `tagging' the Committee endorsed a staff suggestion the facility could be `pre tagged' in the form of a `tag art' mural. It was advised that this approach had worked well when tried elsewhere.
As well, the Committee noted assurances that, aesthetically, the skateboard bowl will not detract from the amenity values of the reserve. The landscaping will provide screening so that there will be minimal views across the reserve to the skate bowl at ground level.
The Committee was also advised that based on experience with other facilities and observations of informal skateboard activities in the central city, apart from school holidays, the major use of the facility will be outside working hours when passive use of the reserve and the demand for on street parking was low.
On the question of the business community's expectations regarding the use of the reserve the Legal Services Manager confirmed the advice in his written opinion that the full Council had done nothing which could have lead property owners to believe the reserve would be retained for passive recreation.
After fully considering the public submissions, legal advice and the Parks Manager's comments and assurances the majority of the Committee concluded that the proposed use was an appropriate one for the reserve and the development plan should be implemented.
| Recommendation: |
|
(Councillors Berry and Cox requested that their votes against recommendations 1, 2 and 3 be recorded.)
The meeting concluded at 4.30 pm.
CONSIDERED THIS 17TH DAY OF DECEMBER 1997
MAYOR