DESPITE resident complaints, two developments in the ‘sensitive’ areas of Crawley and Bellevue Terrace, West Perth have received council approval.
DESPITE resident complaints, two developments in the ‘sensitive’ areas of Crawley and Bellevue Terrace, West Perth have received council approval.
A plan to build an eight storey, eleven-apartment building at 12 Bellevue Terrace was approved at council’s 9 February meeting, despite not complying with the Residential Planning Codes and City Planning Scheme in terms of height, car parking and setbacks.
Another plan to build a five-level, four apartment building was closer to the requirements of the R-Codes and the City Planning Scheme.
This development also did not comply in terms of setbacks.
Despite the non-compliance, judged slight by council’s planning staff in both cases, council could still pass the applications using its discretionary powers.
Councillor Noel Semmens said the two proposals showed the need to expedite the review of the R-Codes.
Mr Semmens said the R-Codes were inappropriate for inner city living developments.
“It would be better for us if we had a clear code that laid it out guidelines in black and white while leaving us a modicum of discretion,” he said.
However, Lord Mayor Peter Nattrass said Crawley, Bellevue Terrace and the Mount Street precinct were totally different from the rest of the CBD.
“I believe that if a development complies in every way with the City Planning Scheme it must be passed,” Dr Nattrass said.
“If it doesn’t comply in any way and there are objections from neighbours, I will not use my discretion to pass it.”
Dr Nattrass said he had lived in the area for nearly fifteen years and believed the car parking proposed for the Bellevue Terrace development was totally inadequate.
The developer had suggested nineteen bays while thirty-one bays were required.
Dr Nattrass said council had a long practice of ensuring developments in areas such as Bellevue Terrace and Crawley had three car bays per unit.
Councillor Laurance Good-man said council could expect little solace from the R-Code review.
He said the R-Codes would still apply need to apply to all areas so there probably would not be concessions made for the Perth CBD.
“I believe that insisting buildings comply to the schemes in every way can stifle creativity. This can lead to boring development,” Mr Goodman said.
“I still don’t know why you need three car bays if you live on Bellevue Terrace.
“We’re supposed to be moving towards fewer cars and a better public transport system,” he said.
A plan to build an eight storey, eleven-apartment building at 12 Bellevue Terrace was approved at council’s 9 February meeting, despite not complying with the Residential Planning Codes and City Planning Scheme in terms of height, car parking and setbacks.
Another plan to build a five-level, four apartment building was closer to the requirements of the R-Codes and the City Planning Scheme.
This development also did not comply in terms of setbacks.
Despite the non-compliance, judged slight by council’s planning staff in both cases, council could still pass the applications using its discretionary powers.
Councillor Noel Semmens said the two proposals showed the need to expedite the review of the R-Codes.
Mr Semmens said the R-Codes were inappropriate for inner city living developments.
“It would be better for us if we had a clear code that laid it out guidelines in black and white while leaving us a modicum of discretion,” he said.
However, Lord Mayor Peter Nattrass said Crawley, Bellevue Terrace and the Mount Street precinct were totally different from the rest of the CBD.
“I believe that if a development complies in every way with the City Planning Scheme it must be passed,” Dr Nattrass said.
“If it doesn’t comply in any way and there are objections from neighbours, I will not use my discretion to pass it.”
Dr Nattrass said he had lived in the area for nearly fifteen years and believed the car parking proposed for the Bellevue Terrace development was totally inadequate.
The developer had suggested nineteen bays while thirty-one bays were required.
Dr Nattrass said council had a long practice of ensuring developments in areas such as Bellevue Terrace and Crawley had three car bays per unit.
Councillor Laurance Good-man said council could expect little solace from the R-Code review.
He said the R-Codes would still apply need to apply to all areas so there probably would not be concessions made for the Perth CBD.
“I believe that insisting buildings comply to the schemes in every way can stifle creativity. This can lead to boring development,” Mr Goodman said.
“I still don’t know why you need three car bays if you live on Bellevue Terrace.
“We’re supposed to be moving towards fewer cars and a better public transport system,” he said.
