Brickwharf Rd decision shows benefits of submissions
The Local Planning Panel's recent rejection of a non-compliant three-storey residential flat proposal at 75 Brickwharf Rd, Woy Woy, was evidence of the benefit of community submissions on planning proposals, according to the Peninsula Residents' Association.
Council planners had recommended approval of the proposal.
The Panel agreed with many of the problems identified in submissions, said association secretary Ms Jen Wilder.
"It concluded that the proposal was an over-development of the site and resulted in unreasonable impacts on the adjoining heritage building, over-shadowing and loss of privacy," she said.
The planning panel only gets to consider development applications when 10 or more unique submissions are made about them, said Ms Wilder.
"The advantages of having the Panel consider the applications are more than just weighing Council recommendations and community submissions.
"A panel hearing also gives the Panel the opportunity to make an independent assessment of the proposal.
"In this case, it said that rear access over a council carpark had not been shown to be legally possible.
"This was not considered in the original application, in the council assessment or in any of the submissions."
Ms Wilder said the Residents' Association was planning to facilitate a workshop on Sunday, August 27, that would help residents better understand the planning rules and processes, and possibly make submissions about development applications."
For more information, see the association's website at peninsularesidents.org.au, which also has a link to its facebook page.
SOURCE:
Media release, 8 Jul 2023
Jen Wilder, PRA