An application to build a $2.3 million five-storey, 15 room boarding house for 29-30 Firth Street in the Arncliffe shopping strip is currently before Bayside Council.
The boarding house component of the building will comprise 14 double rooms ranging in size from 24sqm to 25sqm and including two accessible rooms, and will be capable of accommodating up to 28 boarders.
Communal space will include a 32sqm common living room leading to a 20sqm area of communal open space located on level one.
Each of the proposed boarding rooms will contain a bathroom, kitchen and laundry facilities providing a "high standard of boarding house accommodation," according to the accompanying Statement of Environmental Effects.
There will be parking for ten cars, three motorcycles and three bicycles.
The plan includes 78 square-metres of retail space on the ground floor.
The 357 square-metre site on the corner of Firth Street and Queen Street and is zoned B4-Mixed Use which permits boarding houses.
Recent changes to the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) (Affordable Rental Housing) limits the number of boarding rooms to 12 within a R2 Residential Zone.
This is not applicable to the proposed development. But the SEPP requires that the council, as the consent authority, consider the compatibility of the development to the surrounding area.
"The proposal will provide for a high quality mixed use development in a well-serviced location in close proximity to public transport and numerous community facilities," the SEE states.
"The development responds appropriately to both the established and emerging character of the surrounding locality where it aims to address the need for more alternative accommodation options.
"As important, the proposal is unlikely to result in adverse impacts on surrounding development.
"The application includes an Operational Plan of Management that aims to ensure that the boarding house will be operated in a manner that ensures the safety of residents, provides a comfortable and harmonious environment for residents and will not result in unacceptable impacts on residents."
The Plan of Management says that the use of all outdoor communal areas will be restricted to between 8am to 10pm daily.
The DA will be decided by Bayside Council.
