More units for Berith St?

An application to develop a three-unit residential flat building at 46 Berith St Umina has been received by Gosford Council.

The development application was lodged with the council on Tuesdya, January 19 and the estimated cost of the development is $660,000.

The developer is listed as Knight Mapleton Design Partners and the proposal is for a two-storey development.

The site is located on the western side of Berith St and is relatively flat, not bushfire prone or within a heritage conservation area, according to the application.

It currently contains a single dwelling house, according to a statement of environmental effects that accompanied the development application.

"The surrounding residential development is characterized by primarily medium density housing and an eclectic blend of one and two storey dwelling houses, ranging from modest, post-war design to dwelling houses of a contemporary appearance," the statement said.

The DA seeks consent for the demolition of the existing house and the erection of three brick and tile town houses with front courtyard fencing.

Vehicle access is proposed via a driveway running along the southern boundary and separate garages are proposed for each town house.

The rear dwelling would have vehicle access by the unnamed lane.

"The proposed units provide sufficient areas to store mobile waste collection bins away from the street and clothes drying areas that would be screened from other dwellings and the public."

According to the statement of environmental effects: "The multi-unit housing building design would not result in any adverse environmental, amenity, social or economic impacts to the site and surrounding area.

"The proposal entails an increase in development density that is commensurate with the locality and the land use zoning.

"The use of the land would not adversely impact on the surrounding properties and would allow the existing environment to be adequately protected whilst allowing suitable and appropriate creation of new dwellings to proceed."

According to the applicant, the use of the land for multi-dwelling housing is an orderly and economic use of the land that reflects the character of the locality and environment.

According to the application, the proposal complies with Gosford LEP 2014 for minimum lot size, height and floor space ratio.

The site is in a flood prone area so any further building works would be required to have floor levels raised to meet the flood planning levels stipulated by council.

Issues of non-compliance addressed in the DA include the side and rear setbacks.

However, the application said: "Notwithstanding the non-compliance with the numerical measures, the design of the development would allow sufficient boundary setbacks to alleviate visual amenity, privacy and overshadowing impacts to the adjoining properties within the medium density residential zone."

The proposed development would require the removal of several native trees and their relocation within the centre of the site, the retention of the trees is "unrealistic, otherwise the site would be sterilized in regards to the ability to erect new dwellings within the medium density residential zone".

The site did not contain ecologically-endangered vegetation or significantly listed trees, according to the application.

Website, 20 Jan 2016

DA49124/2016, Gosford Council planning portal