At next Tuesday’s (19/12) Ordinary Council Meeting, two unrelated planning permit applications are scheduled to be presented to Council. These applications relate to properties in the Carnegie Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ1) which feature maximized townhouse dwelling yield (density) via the combination of basement car parking (vehicle access and garaging below ground increases ground level development space) and the Ministerial removal of the 2 lot subdivision limit (Amendment VC110). Given that the NRZ1 ( a.k.a. “the most protected residential zone”) covers a reported 70-80% Glen Eira, approval of these applications sets a precedent for future “more intensive development” that is incompatible with the intent of the NRZ and is more compatible with the activity centre growth zones (without providing proximity to services and transport).
The zones intent being
- Neighbourhood Residential Zone – maintenance of the existing character of predominantly single and double storey residential in garden settings on tree lined streets. A GERA comment – Garden settings includes mature vegetation. Mature trees and basement car parking are not a good mix.
- Growth Zones (Residential Growth Zone – RGZ, 4 stories and General Residential Zone – GRZ, 3 stories) – moderate to medium density developments offering good access to services and transport and diversity of housing types.
GERA believes these developments are the “thin edge of the wedge” for future development of Glen Eira’s Neighbourhood Residential Zone. We note in that, in the Planning Section of Glen Eira’s Annual Report 2016-2017 Council’s performance measure for evaluating the success of the strategy for providing diverse housing types has become 50% of new dwellings in the activity centres (and ipso facto 50% NRZ). This contrasts with previous years when the split was 70:30. Given the proposed expansion of activity centres and proposed housing mix within the centres, we call upon Council to provide the justification for this change.
Planning Scheme Amendment VC110 – March, 2017
For the Neighbourhood Residential Zone 1 (prior to the 2013 Zone Implementation, known as the Minimal Change Area) Amendment VC110 makes the following significant changes
- Maximum building height increase from 8 to 9 metres with a new 2 storey height limit. Provisions allowing for slight height increases due to land slope or flooding remain.
- Removal of the maximum 2 dwellings per lot subdivision rule
- Implementation of a mandatory “garden” area requirement that varies according size of the lot to be subdivided. In terms of the above Carnegie applications (with lot sizes of 1103 and 973.6 sqm.), the “garden” requirement is 35% and is being met by the strip of land between the lot boundary and the underground basement car park. The northern side, front and rear “strips” will be divided up as private open space for the town houses while the southern side strip will be common ground providing garden areas and pedestrian access to townhouses.
Example – Rigby Avenue Basement and Garden Space (click to enlarge)
Carnegie Planning Permit Applications
Details and Plans available ex Councils Website – Advertised Planning Permits
Location
The sites proximity to amenities are typical of most of the NRZ
- Bus – 150 m
- Carnegie Activity Centre and Train – 1.6km
- Ormond Activity Centre and Train – 1.6km
- McKinnon Primary School – 1.6 km
Both Rigby and Newman Avenue are narrow congested streets and already experience high on street parking demand (due to older townhouse developments and waiving of parking requirements (14) within the Koornang/Leila Roads convenience store area.)
Specific Issues
GERA agrees with, and supports, the residents objecting to these developments. Not only do the developments substantially adversely impact their amenity (traffic, parking, overshadowing and, overlooking – internal living areas and private open space), they are also at odds with Council’s Planning Scheme and Policies, Quality Design Guidelines and the intention of the NRZ.
A comprehensive summary of the grounds for the objection, tailored to the 3 Rigby Avenue application and pertinent to the Newman Avenue application, has been prepared and provided by the objectors. Their intention is to assist residents objecting to similar inappropriate developments in the Neighbourhood Residential Zone.
As previously mentioned, these 2 permit applications will be discussed at next Tuesday’s Council Meeting (19/12). This Meeting’s Agenda, which will include the Officer’s Recommendation on these applications, will be published late tomorrow (Friday, 15/12). Although what the recommendation will be is not currently known (hopefully, it will be in line with residents objections and the intent of the NRZ), the Council discussion on these 2 application will be interesting and provide insight into Council’s intentions for the future development of the NRZ. NRZ resident attendance at the meeting should be worthwhile.
BTW – For those unable to attend, this meeting is currently scheduled to be the first Council Meeting to be live streamed. Look for a Council announcement providing the necessary details to access the live streaming.
As usual, please feel free to add your comments on the Glen Eira Residents Association Facebook page.
Glen Eira Residents' Association Inc 