Non-compliance is to the benefit of the developer only

Council has now approved the development of a three-storey residential flat building with nine units and parking for 12 cars at 145 Blackwall Rd, Woy Woy, on a small, narrow block which is less than the 750 square metre block size required under planning provisions.

This development (DA55285/2018) is on the northern boundary of St Luke's Church.

The photomontage in the Statement of Environmental Effects shows a very bulky building squeezed between the church boundary on the south and the boundary of a single level villa development on the north.

How could this development be approved on such a small block?

By non-compliance, of course, with the Gosford Local Environmental Plan 2014 and the Gosford Development Control Plan 2013.

Non-compliance is to the benefit of the developer only.

The developer has no concern as to the impact of non-compliance development on his neighbours.

Based on the Revised Notification Plans DA55285 (March 2019) the points of non-compliance include the front setback being 3.009 metres when six metres is required.

Future developments in the surrounding area will cite this as a reason to vary their front setbacks.

The building setback from St Luke's Church is predominately 1.584 metres when 3.5 metres is required.

This is allowed because St Luke's is non-residential.

It is not a commercial or industrial site and so surely it deserves better treatment.

The building setback from the villas on the north of the development is predominately 1.5 metres when 3.5 metres is required.

To reduce the Floor Space Ration to an acceptable level the lobby areas are now open to the elements at the sides.

During a sermon at the church, will the pinging of lift bells or stomping of feet going up the stairs be a distraction?

The garbage bin area is located close to the memorial garden at the church - an area for quiet contemplation supposedly.

The windows below the eaves of the church have facetted glass windows installed.

Will they be in shade in winter?

There are no shadow diagrams attached to the DA to verify if this will or will not be a problem.

I cannot understand how a building of this size on such a small block could be seen as acceptable by Council.

What is needed is a building body that would boycott inappropriate development.

Email, 18 Dec 2019

Jane Dove, Woy Woy