GERA has been contacted by a Caulfield North resident asking for assistance in raising residents awareness for a proposed development at 14-16 Hawthorn Road, Caulfield North. Details of the proposed development and the objection process are included in the below letter forwarded to us.
We encourage readers to consider lodging an objection to the development should you wish to do so. If you would like to contact the resident co-ordinating the objections please do so by emailing GERA (geresidents@hotmail.com)
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Dear Neighbours,
Plans have been advertised for a 4-storey, 31-apartment building with 62 car spaces to be constructed at 14-16 Hawthorn Rd, Caulfield North. The two historic houses built in the early 1920s at 14 and 16 Hawthorn Road on the corner of Wanda Road would be demolished.
We only have until early July for to lodge objections. The development is inappropriate for this residential area of Hawthorn Rd. It would add an unsustainable traffic load to Wanda Road, which has already been negatively impacted by parking and traffic from the Emmy Monash aged-care facility.
The link to the council page for you to view the plans and register an objection is supplied below. Please consider submitting an objection as a matter of urgency. If we cannot prevent the two historic homes at numbers 14 and 16 Hawthorn Road from being demolished, we hope to at least have the plans for the new building modified so that the impact on our neighbourhood is not so great. If we cannot block the development, we would aim to convince the council to reduce the size and height of the building, and have the underground parking accessed from Hawthorn Rd. We feel strongly that a two, or maximum three-storey development with parking access from Hawthorn Rd would be the only acceptable option.
Please also be aware that we were able to block the development of the adjoining block at 12 Hawthorn Rd over a year ago, and a 4-storey apartment building was rejected for 14 Hawthorn Rd over 3 years ago. This current proposed development would pave the way for future inappropriate developments and fundamental changes in our neighbourhood.
It is also worth pursuing the issue through Heritage Victoria, as the two existing houses are beautiful and well-maintained examples of early 20th century architecture that is rapidly disappearing from our area. If any of you have expertise in this area, it would be terrific if you could investigate this.
We have included below: the links to the plans, the council website for objections, and a Guide to Objections. Please email me if you would like an emailed copy of this letter so you can open the links directly.
The Council Application Number for the development is: GE/DP-33521/2020
Council link to submit an objection.
Scroll down to click on the online planning portal link. Enter Application Number GE/DP-33521/2020, then click the number. Scroll to the bottom of the page to make a submission.
The Glen Eira Residents Association has an excellent document: “Planning Permit Objection Guideline”
We hope to successfully block this development that threatens the character and amenity of our neighbourhood. Thank you for your involvement.
Yours sincerely,
Dev
Glen Eira Residents' Association Inc 