The first block of units to be built in the shopping strip of Lime Kiln Road, Lugarno has been approved prompting fears it will open doors for similar developments in the area.
Georges River Council Local Planning Panel this week approved the $5.63 million, 14- apartment shop top residential development to be built on the corner of Lime Kiln Road and Forest Road, Lugarno.
Under the application, three lots will be amalgamated to make a 1401 square-metre site and the row of existing shops at 2-12 Lime Kiln Road will be demolished, along with two residential dwellings behind in Forest Road.
The council received 35 submissions and a petition with 228 signatures.
Issues raised included non-complying height, bulk and scale, parking shortfall, traffic impacts, privacy impacts, zoning, solar access and viability of the proposed retail and commercial uses.
One resident told the panel as Lugarno has no units, there were concerns that if approved it would open the doors for more developers to come into the area and build.
But the applicant Peter Israel said he believed it was a positive development for the area.
The site is zoned B1 Neighbourhood Centre which calls for a range of small scale retail, business and community uses that serve the needs of people who live and work in the surrounding neighbourhood.
“The proposed development complies with the zone objectives in that it will provide non-residential floor area on the ground level and shop-top housing which reflects the residential uses surrounding the site,” the council report stated.
The panel found that while the 12.28 maximum height of the development does not comply with the nine-metre height standard, it was allowable due to the slope of the site which falls towards Forest Road.
The council report found the additional height did not result in additional privacy or shadow impacts.
The applicant said the height of the non-complying will be set back to the middle of the building and will not be visible from Lime Kiln Road or Forest Road.
“Flexibility in applying the development standard is considered appropriate in this instance due to the specific site circumstances.
The council’s Senior Traffic Engineer raised no objection and advised the traffic generation was unlikely to result in adverse impacts to the road network.
The existing shops on the site have no on-site parking spaces and use the street parking. The development will provide car parking for the shops, apartments and visitors and a loading area within the basement and reduce the reliance of on-street parking.
The development will have 29 car spaces in the basement.
Submissions said the proposed development was not consistent with the character of the area but the applicant said it was acceptable in the context of the neighbourhood character, providing a shop top housing development that will enhance the identity of the area.
Summing up, the council report found the design was consistent with the zoning and provided a good urban design.