Council recommends refusal for multi-dwelling proposal
A proposed multi-dwelling development at 8 Priestman Ave, Umina, was considered at the meeting of the Central Coast Local Planning Panel last Thursday, November 9.
There had been 11 public submissions against the application DA/397/2023.
The council assessment recommended refusal, stating that the building height and floor space ratio exceeded the maximum permitted.
The report stated: "An extrapolation of the southern-most first-floor ridge to the surveyed existing ground level has indicated a building height of more than 8.5 metres (which exceeds the maximum permissible height).
"Assessment of the application has also revealed a miscalculation the gross floor area, excluding areas of laundry, garbage storage and unspecified use within the proposed garages.
"Measurement of these areas demonstrates an additional gross floor area that results in exceeding the permissible floor space ratio of 0.5:1.
"The applicant has not provided an appropriate statement in accordance with Clause 4.6 with regard to non-compliances with development standards."
Other non-compliance with planning provisions included "rear setbacks, private open space and fencing, sunlight access, car parking, landscape design and cut and fill".
At the Panel hearing, the only speaker was Mr Francis Wiffen who spoke in support of the Council recommendation on behalf of the Peninsula Residents Association.
Mr Wiffen praised the council for its "diligence and attention to detail" and stated that "the Association wholeheartedly supports the Council's recommendation for refusal".
Mr Wiffen raised the issue of contribution of gunbarrel" developments such as this to "the dramatic loss of tree canopy and vegetation cover on the Peninsula".
He said the scale of the problem was illustrated by the fact that Council Administrator Mr Rik Hart's proposal to "green the Peninsula" with 8500 trees would only increase tree canopy by three per cent, when 30 per cent was needed to alleviate the heat island effect.
Allowing applications that did not comply with the planning provisions would "push us even further into the red zone".
The Panel is expected to release its decision this week.
SOURCE:
Local Planning Panel agenda 3.1, 9 Nov 2023