Three-storey units to include affordable housing

Public comment has opened on a proposal to build a three-storey building with 12 units, including affordable housing, at the corner of Waratah St and Ocean Beach Rd, Woy Woy.

The applicant, community housing provider Pacific Link Housing Ltd, lodged the development application with Central Coast Council on July 3 and the public has until August 1 to comment.

Estimated to cost $3.2 million, the 12 dwellings comprise nine one-bedroom and three two-bedroom dwellings, each with their own private open space and car parking.

The Statement of Environmental Effects by Barker, Ryan, Stewart states that the proposal is generally compliant with relevant State and the various Central Coast Council planning instruments.

The detail shows the design varies from guidelines in rear boundary setback and exterior wall setbacks.

The design statement to council states that the setbacks are adhered to towards the west and south but towards the north the development would encroach towards the hardstand commercial parking area. Towards the east the balconies would encroach over the setback lines "and helps to articulate the facade".

Ten of the 12 units, or more than 80 per cent, meet the minimum daily requirement for sunlight and this is better than the guidelines which say 70 per cent must meet the minimum daily requirement.

A communal open space is not provided. The guidelines say buildings with more than 10 units should have a communal open space. The application says due to the narrowness of the block, private open space has been provided.

It says it would use 45degree angles and off set windows to ensure privacy between units as well as obscure glazing and screening to increase visual privacy between units.

A total of 13 car spaces are to be provided, with access via Ocean Beach Rd.

The units would be a mix of privately-owned dwellings, and affordable rental housing and social rental housing managed by Pacific Link Housing.

A pre-lodgement meeting was held at Council to discuss the proposed development on 23rd April 2019.

The application states that the proposed development is a direct response to the Affordable Housing Strategy which was authorised for finalisation by Council on April 29.

The strategy is designed to address affordable housing by providing more housing choice for households earning less than $100,000 per year.

Central Coast Council had committed to delivering this strategy, as more than 60 per cent of Coast households earn less than $2000 per week and are at risk of experiencing housing stress within the current market, the report said.

SOURCE

DA Tracker 17 Jul 2019

DA 56801, Central Coast Council