Permission for posts at Patonga

Gosford Council has granted permission for a posted verandah at the front of Patonga Seafoods.

As a condition of consent, the "awning" must be designed by a structural engineering consultant to ensure that it one post is knocked out or removed the awning will not collapse.

Council also required the posts of the awning must be located 1650mm clear from the face of the kerb and gutter to provide an unobstructed area of footway that serves parallel parked vehicles and pedestrian access past the shop.

The applicant first received consent from council for the shop fit out in December 1999.

The applicant applied to modify the consent and the modification was approved in May this year.

The applicant subsequently filed an appeal submitting another application requiring amendment to a condition.

This included the reorientated parking situation to result from a $20,000 contribution recently paid relating to the adjoining Patonga Tavern development.

The applicant said that cantilevering the awning was unnecessary, as the possibility of vehicle impact with the support posts was negligible.

One public submission was received stating that the application should not be approved as there was still a danger of the supporting posts being struck by a vehicle.

But council's development engineer said that an amendment of the condition such that the awning will not collapse if one post is knocked out was considered sufficient in the circumstance.

Council agenda FS.096, August 28