Three storeys 'better than generic, bland gun-barrel'
A leading Peninsula planning consultant has stated that "gun-barrel" developments were "considered somewhat generic, bland and uninteresting and entail minimal deep soil zones or soft landscaping opportunities".
The consultant, Clarke Dowdle and Associates, made the statement in support of a proposal to build a three-storey six-unit block of flats in Brickwharf Rd, Woy Woy, describing it as preferable to a "gun barrel" development.
An example at 73 Railway St, Woy Woy, was described as a development that "incorporates on-grade parking with a 'gun barrel' driveway with no landscaping along the sides of the built form".
Clarke Dowdle and Associates has successfully submitted many applications for multi-unit developments on the Peninsula with a gun-barrel driveway running the length of the site.
"Council has accepted non-complying setbacks with the two-storey residential flat buildings with minimal site landscaping."
The proposal at 75 Brickwharf Rd is for a $2.944 million three-storey building with car parking located within garages located to the rear of the site.
Pedestrian access from street level will be provided via a dedicated centrally-located lobby leading to a lift.
A stairwell is also proposed to "maximise permeability through the building".
The proposal does not meet requirements to provide 25 per cent of communal open space.
The application argues that no communal open space is needed because the site is "within immediate vicinity of Austin Bulter Recreation Reserve that includes large recreational areas".
"Further the site is located opposite Woy Woy foreshore reserve and is within cycling distance of the and Peninsula Leisure Centre for active recreational pursuits."
The proposal fails to meet side and rear boundary setbacks specified in the SEPP 65 Apartment Design Guide and those in the Gosford planning provisions.
It a height of 11.3 metres, it exceeds the height limit of 11 metres specified in planning provisions.
It also exceeds the specified maximum floor space ratio of 0.6:1 for the site, having a proposed ratio of 0.65:1.
SOURCE:
DA Tracker, 23 Jul 2021
DA 61806, Central Coast Council