Why have guidelines if the council doesn't follow them

The Peninsula News front page article, on December 11, "Planning failure used to justify non-compliance", refers to a development application for three two-storey townhouses on an existing single brick house site.

It does not comply with planning guidelines and is being justified on the basis that the Council has not followed guidelines on numerous occasions.

Why have guidelines if Council does not follow them?

These two-storey townhouses will be crammed onto a block with setback variances compromised by 25 per cent to 40 per cent.

The developer's justification is stated as keeping with the Development Control Plan setback objectives.

Either the setbacks meet the DCP's standards or they do not.

Homeowners should not be compromised in the provision of garden space and privacy.

The developer also claims that it will provide affordable medium density housing for the community.

This appears to be another developer opportunity to maximise profit at the expense of potential home owners.

Email, 11 Dec 2017

Suraya Coorey, Woy Woy