PlanningAlerts

11 Comments

Create an account or sign in to have your say by adding your own comment.

1. A meeting place , which serves food and beverage and unites our community is what Forestdale needs. A place where people entering Forestdale can meet or as a point of interest. There are plenty of childcare centres elsewhere. Thank you.

2. I agree with all others of our community. We require a bakery and shops and to bring our community together. If they expand the childcare centre it will be very large - do the demographics of our suburb, we do not have the young families to support that. We really need small shops. Our only alternative to purchase bread and milk is to use service stations and large shopping centres which are quite a drive away. Please save our shops! We all want shops and will support them if they come.

3. A critical factor in achieving community and council support for the original daycare development was the undertaking given by the new owner to support the community and existing businesses. This was overtly articulated during community consultation and NW meetings. Plans provided clearly display the full occupancy of the complex of shops at that time (i.e. "Existing Bakery, Medical Centre, Cafe, Hair and Beauty Salon, and Personal Training"). This was demonstrably achievable, as recently as 2016.

   Despite appeals from the community to preserve this historically treasured "hub", actions were reportedly taken by the new owner which affected the viability of these existing small businesses. Vacancies rapidly followed. Morale of residents was notably affected. Subsequently, the community has become aware of multiple approaches, often by locals, with interest in reestablishing the block of shops. It would appear that there has been no genuine appetite to 'meet the current market' to enable this?

   And now, this planning application represents an attempt to remove the last vestiges of the only community infrastructure available to Forestdale as a whole. Expansion of a daycare centre not yet even at capacity, primarily to benefit commuters and profits for the owner (of this and multiple other centers). But nowhere remaining for the locals to even buy a loaf of bread or milk, let alone meet socially, without getting into cars and leaving the suburb.

   Despite paying one of the highest Council rates in the region, Forestdale has no sewerage, no public transport service and very limited mobile coverage. It remains in limbo regarding a major freight route to pass within metres of homes. In my opinion, removing this small retail precinct cannot fail to further affect property values and negatively impact the quality of life of residents. I strongly believe that it is the responsibility of Council, in assessing the merits of this application, to appropriately weigh these ramifications and protect constituents.

4. Very disappointed to see this, especially after all the empty promises that were made by the new owner in the beginning.
   This is definitely NOT what the residents of Forestdale want for their community, we want services that will benefit the needs of the majority, not just the few. We need a Corner Store/bakery/café at the very least, which would benefit not just the locals but also the parents and carers of the Child Care Centre.

5. Forestdale is a community as well as a location. We need a community centre not a larger childcare centre. We are no longer served by public transport and out community shops have been closed since redevelopment to include the existing child care centre.

   Despite assurances from the current owner of the Forestdale shops, that he was interested in supporting the community, his actions have not been consistent with those statements. Prospective tenants have indicated that the high rents being sought do not reflect the market and prohibit a viable business. It appears to many that this has been a deliberate strategy by the owner, so they can have the shops rezoned as part of the childcare centre

   The Forestdale shops, prior to the redevelopment, provided the community with a focal point, a community "hub". We need viable business to again provide services that support the community. We do not need an increase in childcare services

6. Changing this building from shops to a massive childcare centre will have a detrimental effect on traffic flow on Forestdale Drive, and also remove the opportunity for shops and a community centre in this vital area of the community. On purchasing in Forestdale, we were assured by real estate agents, and other community members that there were plans for a community hub, as the developer had only been granted approval for the shops on this basis. The owner of the building has deliberately set rents of the shops too high so that they can falsely claim that they are unable to rent out or lease the premises to shops. This building should remain in its current purpose, and NOT be approved for change of use.

7. To Whom It May Concern,
   This is very disappointing to see this application for change of use for this property. On Monday 05 June 2017, the owner of the property advised residents at a NHW meeting that there would be six shops at the shopping village when renovations were completed including an outdoor alfresco area. Since this time, all tenants excluding one have vacated the premises due to inflated rental prices, beyond reasonable even with the renovations and new fascade of the property and other personal reasons.
   Upon many verbal discussions with the owner of the property, he has assured the community that he was very keen to rebuild the shopping village and wanted to be an integral component of the community and work with everyone. However, as advised by many, the owner has failed to return phone calls, emails and other correspondence pertaining to the letting of shops for vendors. He has also failed to return calls, follow through on verbal commitments for community support and has made it very clear that the community and the value that he claimed to hold for Forestdale, is no longer present.
   The child care centre itself was of concern to many in the area when it was first planned, however, the community has now supported and welcomed the centre and has invited them to be involved on a number of occasions with community events and meetings, with attendance only once since opening at a community event.
   To reaffirm, I find it very disappointing to see that the owner has failed to consult the community at all on this planned change to our vital community hub and has somewhat attempted to blindside the community through this application.
   I believe, alongside many others, that this application should be denied in line with the fact that there have been willing tenants for shops at the premises, however, the owner obviously has other plans for the centre and therefore, has neglected to fulfil requests for these tenants to obtain leases.
   We would welcome any information to be shared with the community about this further through the NHW which is an integral part of the community and can be contacted at info@forestdale.com.au
   Kind Regards,
   Jocelyn Marentis
   Area Coordinator
   Forestdale Neighbourhood Watch Inc.

8. Henry Hermann
   To Councillor
   Mr Laurie Smith
   Logan City Council
   I d not support the application submitted for a MCU and proposed Development for extending the Childcare and new Offices.
   I only agreed to the original Childcare if the existing shops remained as they are a very important part of our community. ( I was a zone Co-ordinator for 25yrs of FNHW and resident for over 34yrs)
   Being closely involved with our community and local businesses it was obvious the new owner was not upholding the commitments he gave verbally. Almost immediately it appeared he had a future agenda as each tenant (with the exception of one) moved out due to exhorbitant Rent increases.
   I believe the original Developer of Forestdale Peter Kurts included provisions for Shops at No 1 Forestdale Drive. The original master plan was approved by LCC which rightly understood an isolated community requires shops and a community meeting place which a variety of shops provide.
   The shops have always been an integral part and meeting
   place of our community with all previous owners strongly supporting the tenants and Community which is isolated to the extent there are no other shops within walking distance for basic needs.
   There's no bus services within Forestdale and ones along Johnston Rd are few.
   I also agree with other objectors comments against this Development
   I strongly object to this application for a MCU and this Development as it deprives our Community of essential services and Community hub we have always had.

9. I would like to offer my objection to the planning proposal to change the use from community/neighbourhood hub to daycare and office use. We have lived in Forestdale for over 5 years and whilst raising a young family have been fortunate to benefit from local shops for conveniences, treats, coffee and general services. The loss of the bakery and cafe changed the level of community interaction as locals were forced to drive and seek these services/items kilometres away. Our children enjoyed walks and rides for a weekend milkshake or icecream. Whilst we have also availed ourselves of the childcare services which were a great addition to the area, the loss of services is detrimental to the community. The current childcare is under capacity and I cannot see our local community benefiting from a larger daycare as our population directly doesn’t need it. To argue our community needs more childcare would be false when we already have one. What we need is a space to gather, converse, and see our community face to face. Our children need the ability to experience growth and regular childhood adventures as they gain the independence that most other Logan children have at their doorstep. We have no public transport options and the loss of a location for shops would be a sad day for the Forestdale Community.

10. I would to submit our family’s objection to the expansion of the childcare centre in Forestdale. This would eliminate our only shops completely and we as a community do not wish this to happen.
    Prior to the childcare centre opening the shopping centre was supported by our local community and very busy.
    Isle 7 (local coffee shop) was a hub for all Forestdale families to meet up.
    The owner of the centre now has made it extremely difficult to tenant, with numerous people trying to put a coffee shop back at the centre. I feel the way the owner has gone about lodging this application shows he has no interest in supporting the local community and at every opportunity he has blocked new rental agreements by making the rent unaffordable.
    Forestdale community loves their local shops and have been constantly asking when they’re opening back up etc. check with out local NHW team.
    I truly hope local council see through this application and put a stop to it!! Forestdale community needs their shops back not a bigger daycare centre which Forestdale as a community doesn’t have the numbers to fill. The children attending the Centre will mainly come from out of our area.
    Please support our local community shops and let them be tenanted at market value not inflated city prices!

11. Here’s hoping that our local councillor will represent everybody’s concern in council meetings WRT the fact that Forestdalians want shops not child care! It would be interesting to know if there has been a spike in crime since shops have been vacant as I feel this ghost town look encourages thieves into Forestdale and reflects badly on the community.

Have your say on this application

Your comment and details will be sent to Logan City Council. They may consider your submission when they decide whether to approve this application. Your name and comment will be posted publicly above.

Create an account or sign in to make a comment