The maximum height of apartment blocks in the proposed Darrell Lea site development at Kogarah was reduced to 10 storeys as a concession to Rockdale Council.
However, the move did not appear to sway nearby residents, who claimed the building heights and density required for 450 new homes was "extreme".
A modified master plan and other documents were released last week at the same time it was announced the Department of Planning and Environment, and not Rockdale Council, would decide the outcome.
The maximum building height was cut to 10 storeys from the 12 storeys proposed two years ago and the tallest blocks would be at the northern end, as far as possible from existing homes.
The new plan said a commercial strip could create 400 new jobs.
Architect Ed Lippmann said it had taken "a while to get to this point, but I think it should be seen as really outstanding for the community and hopefully good benchmarking for quality design in the area".
"There is a good argument for taller buildings that are away from [existing] residences, but for the sake of co-operating with the council planners, we restricted our proposal to 10 storeys.
"I know it becomes very emotional, but we decided in the interests of compromise to restrict them.
‘‘They are over 100 metres away from any of the existing residences and will have no impact at all.’’
The design statement said master plans for three different options based on the present industrial zoning were discarded because they were not commercially viable.
‘‘The scale and setting of this site provides a unique opportunity to set a new standard for architectural and urban-design quality for the Rockdale area,’’ the document said.
An extension of Weeney Street from Rocky Point Road through the site to Scarborough Park had the potential to be a ‘‘beautifully landscaped, safe, active boulevard’’, the document said.
A traffic study commissioned by the proponent concluded there would ‘‘not be any adverse or unsatisfactory traffic or parking implications’’.
Fifth Ward Ratepayers Association president and Rockdale councillor Andrew Tsounis said the proposed buildings were still too high and the development too dense.
‘‘The heights are extreme in Rockdale,’’ he said.
‘‘People bought homes in the area based on the current zoning and that’s the way it should stay.
‘‘The present infrastructure won’t support what is being proposed.
‘‘It is set on a four-lane road, which is two lanes for most of the day [outside clearway hours].’’
Cr Tsounis said the proposed ‘‘boutique retail area’’ would not make up for the loss of an industrial employment zone and urged residents to use the consultation process to make their concerns known.
‘‘Hopefully, some sense will come of it when submissions go in,’’ he said.
See the plans: leptracking.planning.nsw.gov.au/PublicDetails.aspx?Id=1969
NEIGHBOURS FIGHT FOR PRIVACY:
JASON Matthews, who has two young children and lives in adjoining Margate Street, Ramsgate, is horrified by the potential loss of privacy.
‘‘To have those big apartment blocks staring down on your backyard is not a nice thought,’’ he said.
Mr Matthews said their street was already a traffic bypass and this would worsen if the development went ahead.
Neighbour Lorena Lys, who has two children, said 10-storey apartment blocks would be ‘‘a big eyesore and a monstrosity’’.
‘‘It is not what Ramsgate is about,’’ she said. ‘‘Ramsgate has a community feel, not this.
‘‘I think they tried to get the height down, but it’s still going to look like Rockdale.
‘‘Traffic congestion is already bad, but if this goes through it will be insane.’’
What do you think of the plans for the former Darrell Lea site?
