Council approves two-storey units

Gosford Council has approved the development of five units in a two-storey building at 16-18 Barrenjoey Rd, Ettalong Beach.

The existing houses are to be demolished and a two storey residential flat building with four medium sized units and one large unit are to be constructed.

Council received one pubic submission about the development.

Save Our Suburbs secretary Mr Bryan Ellis spoke at the council meeting objecting to the development.

"The objections of the public are being brushed aside by council officers," he said.

"These developments are disregarded by council because they comply (with zoning provisions).

"Council needs to stand up to the State Government on this.

"They pass these developments because they feel they have to.

"They can't afford to stand up for themselves in the courts.

A staff report to Council stated the development complied with character statements for the Peninsula, including landscaping, and a large setback from the street and vehicular access from a rear lane helped it to blend into the traditional parkland suburb.

The development was not compliant with the appropriate site area, did not provide the required visitor parking space and was 60cm under the required front setback.

Compliance with the site area requirement was found to be unnecessary by Council staff.

They found the development had more resident parking spaces than required and there was plenty of street parking.

If two units were separately built on each block, on-street parking would be allowed, the council was told.

Council staff found the proposed parking to be appropriate.

The change in allowed setback was permitted as it was only on a part of the development and visually enhanced the look of the development.

The issue of the laneway behind the development being used as access prompted Cr Chris Holstein to add an addendum to the motion regarding the use of laneways.

He asked that a report be brought back to Council regarding development standards where the main vehicular access comes from a secondary lane.

Director of Environmental Planning Ms Louise Gee said that the issue would be taken to the consultants working on the Peninsula Integrated Urban Strategy.

Council agenda, DH 033, April 20