Flats approved after redesign

A proposal to build two single storey units in Palm St, Ettalong, has been approved after the applicant has made significant design changes.

The application was resubmitted to Gosford Council on Tuesday, December 7, after being previously refused in August .

The council was told that meetings had been held with the applicant since the refusal and, as a result, amended plans had been lodged.

The amended application proposes demolition of the existing dwelling house and erection of two unit single story residential flat building.

Unit one will have frontage to Palm St and will be setback five metres from the street boundary with a single garage.

Unit two will have frontage to the rear laneway and will be setback 1.2m from the lane boundary with a double garage.

Major amendments to the original plans include the relocation of the building from a six metre setback to a five metre setback from Palm St so as to locate the courtyard for both units on the northern side of the dwellings.

The application was previously refused on the basis that the proposal was a poor design as well as being inconsistent with the desired character of the area.

The impact on future occupants' amenity as a consequence of the poor orientation of both internal and external living areas, the impact on the privacy of unit one was also considered.

Council staff reported that the amended plans significantly improved the design and layout of the proposal and were now in line with the objectives of the zone and desired character of the area.

Council general manager Mr Peter Wilson was authorised to determine development conditions.

Council Agenda ENV.77, 7 Dec 2010