St Lukes Goes To Appeal

in Auckland Featured by Jon C — January 21, 2011 at 11:42 pm | 5 comments

An appeal against the St Lukes mall expansion has been filed in the Environmental Court.

Traffic concerns figure largely in the list of main points for the appeal by the neighbouring St Lukes community association but there is no mention there of the issue of public transport or lack of, which has been raised on this site.

The association is seeking for the proposed plan change allowing for the expansion to be declined in its entireity.

If not, it seeks for the plan to be scaled back with less impact on neighbouring properties including axing the plan to extend Exeter Rd through to Aroha Ave.

The association argues that the expansion will exacerbate existing traffic congestion and traffic safety issues in the surrounding road network and the planned creation of a through road through the mall area will result in “the unnecessary and inappropriate diversion of traffic flows through what is currently a quiet residential area.”

It says the expansion will “significantly alter land uses” as well as traffic patterns.

The lodging of the appeal comes in a week when mall owners, Westfield, erected maximum 240 minute parking limit signs through the St Lukes mall’s existing car park area. It is also erecting parking limit signs at its other malls or has done so already and has engaged with a tow company to remove vehicles that do not comply, which is either to encourage turnover or extract more money from customers.
I can’t wait to see what happens if Peter Jackson releases a four hour Hobbit movie and those who arrive in cars to attend the cinema complex at such malls get towed away!

Tags: Envirionment Court St Lukes St Lukes mall expansion