A six to eight-storey high-rise with 40 apartments could be built at 468-474 Princes Highway, Blakehurst next to Kogarah Bay at the approaches to Tom Uglys Bridge, under a development application to go before the Local Planning Panel next week.
The $16.3 million development would adjoin Tom Uglys Point Reserve to the south and Dover Park to the north and comprises three separate allotments making up a 2300 square-metre site.
Situated on the eastern side of Princes Highway, the proposal would be six-storeys at the front of the site and eight-storeys on the waterfront side.
The proposal includes a communal rooftop area and basement parking for 72 cars. It would replace an older style residential flat building with 13 apartments.
The site is zoned R3 Medium Density Residential under the Kogarah Local Environmental Plan 2012.
Given the prominent foreshore location of the site the council conducted an extensive notification of neighbours. It received one submission saying the development failed to comply with the height limit for the site.
The proposal exceeds the overall height of 21m by a maximum of 3.5m - a 17 per cent variation, created by the lift overrun at both ends.
"The council has been consistent in the application of the height control through the Local Government Area and in particular areas that have recently been upzoned," the council's report states.
"Variations have only been permitted in relation to lift access to the roof where areas of common open space are located.
"This site is unique however."
Parts of the building encroach on the 12m Foreshore Building Line at the rear. Given the narrowness of the land and that most of it complies with the FBL, the variation is considered reasonable, according to the council's report.
A key feature and public benefit of the proposal is the provision of a staircase along the northern side of the building and a two-metre wide public walkway at the rear of the site adjacent to Kogarah Bay.
It has been referred to the Local Planning Panel as the proposal exceeds the development standards by more than 10 per cent.
The proposal was amended in response to concerns raised by Georges River Council. The original proposal for was a five to seven-storey building with 56 apartments and basement parking for 102 cars.
The council's report says the proposal is not considered to have an adverse impact on the waterway or the Georges River Catchment.
The proposal goes to the Georges River Local Planning Panel next Thursday, April 4.
