Three-unit development proposed for West St
An application has been made for a three-unit multi-dwelling at 183 West St, Umina Beach. Prepared by Pragma Urban Planning, it states that the site is zoned General Residential (R1), has an area of 730.377 square meters and is oriented north-south.
The front unit is proposed to be four bedrooms with the other two at three bedrooms.
Unit 2 is proposed to have a single garage with units 1 and 3 to have double garages with a visitor's car parking space to be provided at the northern end of the driveway.
The proposal is claimed to comply with the planning provisions for height and floor space, being less than 8.5 metres in height and having a floor space ratio of 0.4965:1 which results from a gross floor area of 361.05 square metres.
The area of soft landscaping is said to be 210.7 square metres or 28.87 per cent of the site area, which is slightly above the minimum requirement of 25 per cent.
As West St is classified as a regional road at that point, the front setback is 7.5 metres as required and all other setbacks are claimed to comply with planning provisions.
The rear setback is 4.6 metres and accommodates the private open space for Unit 3.
The private open space for Unit 2 is admitted to be non-compliant with much of the area having less than the required minimum dimension of less than 4.5 metres.
The private open space for Unit 1 is proposed to be on the front setback which is prohibited under the planning provisions.
The application states that the proposal seeks a 1.5 metre front boundary fence and a 1.8 metre fence for the private open space area which is set back 1.5 metres behind the boundary fence.
Variations to the planning provisions have been requested for these two open space areas.
As for visual privacy, the application states that the west elevation first floor windows are proposed to have a sill height of 1.5 metres, which it claims will mean "there are not undue opportunities for overlooking adjacent properties".
The east elevation is adjacent to the driveway which according to the application "provides suitable separation from 185 West St".
The rear(north) boundary of 183 West St is shared with 32 Warrah St which contains an existing three-unit multi-dwelling.
Although the balcony on at the rear is proposed to be screened to the east, the northern side of the balcony and the first floor windows will look directly down at the private open space of 32 Warrah St's rear unit and its ground floor living area which incorporates a glass-panelled door and servery window.
The rear setback of 32 Warrah St is only 2.7m according to the approved plans on Central Coast Council's website.
According to the approved drawings for 32 Warrah St, the rear boundary was to be at least partially screened by vegetation including a "major tree canopy species achieving a mature height of eight to 10 metres and be appropriately sited".
According to Google maps none of this appears to have eventuated on the Warrah St side.
However the landscape plan with this application includes planting along the rear boundary of "Aussie compact Lilly Pillys" which should reach a mature height of three metres.
Also proposed on the rear boundary are a blueberry ash and a water gum both of which should reach a mature height of eight metres.
The application does not address the acoustic privacy of having adjoining private open space with the rear property, instead concentrating on minimising traffic noise from West St.
The effect on acoustic and visual privacy of private open space areas and their associated living areas in close proximity has not been discussed in the application.
There is no arborist report included with the drawings and no information about any existing trees and whether or not they are to be retained.
The application states that the front verge would allow the planting of a street tree "if required".
It claims that due to its north-south orientation the proposal complies with all requirements for solar access and overshadowing.
Shadow diagrams are provided.
The application is currently open for written submissions with a closing date of February 10.
SOURCE:
DA Tracker, 11 Jan 2025
DA/1730/2024, Central Coast Council