DA for apartment block next to Our Lady Star of the Sea church and school at Miranda refused

The development was proposed for a single block of land in Kiora Road, at the corner of Clubb Lane, next to Our Lady Star of the Sea church and school.

An old house on the site was previously a doctor's surgery.

A submission by the church said the proposal was "a gross overdevelopment of the site" and would "overlook and intrude on the privacy and amenity of the parish and primary school children's playing area".

The submission said the proposal would also "substantially and adversely offend the height, floor space ratio, setback and privacy planning requirements of the precinct".

Sutherland Shire Council planning staff recommended the development application (DA) be refused and the local planning panel concurred.

The panel found the development did not comply with the floor space ratio, did not meet the minimum lot width and setbacks, did not adequately meet the Apartment Design Guide principles and objectives and "will result in significant impacts upon adjoining land as a consequence of its size and dimensions".

The council assessment report said of the visual privacy impacts, "Given the residential component is designed with a nominal 1.4m setback to the northern boundary, up to a nil setback to the eastern boundary, and that all apartments in the development are oriented towards the school/parish site, this is a reasonable and valid concern".

The proposed building included 17 apartments, ground level shop and two levels of basement parking.

The council said planning staff had been approached for advice from the same owner on the redevelopment of the site on three different occasions across a 13-year period.

During the assessment process for the latest DA, the owner amended the plans by lopping off six units and reducing the height of the building, but it wasn't enough to gain approval.