Submissions to close on proposal next to St Luke's

People have until this Friday, June 14, to submit their comments on a development application for a three-storey block of nine units at 145 Blackwall Rd, Woy Woy, next to St Luke's Anglican Church.

Nearby resident Ms Jane Dove has joined her voice with others from Save Our Woy Woy community group to urge residents to have their say on the proposed development.

The plans were revised in December to reduce the bulk of the development and to increase the setbacks to the south to lessen the impact on the adjoining church but the floor space ratio is still 9.7 per cent above the guidelines.

Michael Leavey Consulting, on behalf of the applicant S Gardner, said compliance with the floor space ratio was considered unreasonable or unnecessary for a number of reasons including the narrow width of the site. He said the site was in an area identified for medium density housing.

"The proposal adjoins a non-residential use to the south, St Lukes Anglican Church, which minimises the impact of overshadowing arising from the development on residential properties and setbacks to this boundary have been increased under the revised plans," Mr Leavey said in a report to council requesting the variation.

But Ms Dove said the increased setbacks still did not meet the minimum requirements.

"The current proposed side setbacks do vary but the side setbacks of the majority of the building are about 1.6m where the minimum should be 3.5m. The front setback is three metres where six metres is required,'' she said.

She said the height of the building and the inadequate setback would impact on the church in winter due to overshadowing, compromising the natural light within the church and adversely affecting viewing of the coloured windows.

She said it would result in higher heating costs and restrict installation of solar panels in the future.

Ms Dove said there had been a number of submissions lodged against the proposal but more were needed for it to be taken to a council meeting.

Submissions on the council website DA Tracker show residents complaining the poorly maintained narrow laneway would not accommodate the higher traffic demands.

One talked about the increase in population from this one small block.

"If future developments are similar to this DA, the charm of Woy Woy will be gone forever and infrastructure will be stretched to its limits," the submission said.

"Will the Central Coast region remain an attractive place to live or holiday with growth rates of this magnitude?"

Development proposals with more than 15 submissions objecting to it will go to a council meeting unless the application is recommended for refusal or changes have been made to proposal that in the opinion of the director have addressed the issues raised.

Other ways to get the matter to a council meeting is if two or more councillors request a call up.

SOURCE:

DA Tracker, 6 June 2019

DA 55282, Central Coast Council