Deferral gives wrong message

The council's latest decision has me totally bewildered.

After a comprehensive report from the professional officers of council, which recommend refusal, then an hour-long discussion with senior planning staff again highlighting why the application should be refused, this council defers the matter.

Why?

The development is inconsistent with the general business zoning.

It has a floor space ratio variation of over 284 per cent.

It exceeds the Peninsula Urban Design Strategy recommended building heights by 100 per cent, extra four to five storeys

It is out of character totally with the Development Control Plan 159.

The car parking plan is not only short in numbers but unworkable and unsafe.

The recommendation is refusal, yet some councillors give hope to the project with a deferral.

My 15 years experience in council tells me that this is the wrong message to this developer and those waiting in the wings to see what they can get away with.

The Central Coast First councillors Hale and Maher, Labor councillors Scott and McFadyen and Cr Drake, all first timers to council, should listen if not to the experience of their fellow councillors then to the professional staff, and refuse this outlandish proposal.

Cr Chris Holstein Gosford Council