Planners support Ettalong rezoning

Gosford Council planners have recommended that council agree to rezone the old Ettalong Memorial Club site despite renewed opposition from the Central Coast Design Review Panel.

They are no longer recommending an "alternate development scenario", despite stating that it "would result in a development that fits more appropriately".

Among the reasons staff gave for now supporting the rezoning were:

* SEPP panel "requirements would likely render the development not viable".
* Objectors "have not offered any practical or viable alternatives to the exhibited plan"
* Objectors did "not address the question of what is the most appropriate development and landuse outcome for the site".
The council received 23 submissions and four petitions about the proposal.

Four submissions were received which supported the draft plan, while 19 submissions were received objecting to the draft plan.

The petitions had a total of 370 signatories supporting the plan and 139 signatories objecting.

The main issues in the submissions supporting the plan were its economic and town centre improvement benefits.

One submission commented that the development would bring new retail and commercial business to the precinct.

It also stated that it would bring residential living into the heart of the town centre which would ensure the economic viability of the town centre.

Objections to the plan included that spot rezonings should not be supported prior to adoption of the Peninsula Urban Directions Strategy, and that the draft plan would result in the gross overdevelopment of the site.

Other objections included that traffic infrastructure would not be able to cope with the impact of the development, the draft plan would create a precedent in the town centre, and that the site should either be left as a carpark or be limited to three storeys in height.

The draft local environmental plan was exhibited for a six-week period, from February 9 to March 23.

Council agenda EP.34, May 3