PlanningAlerts

5 Comments

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1. The current 2 storey buildings 140-144 Yarra St are already imposing from the backyard of 15 Paterson Street. To build dwellings double the height or even 3 storeys on the existing block of land and incorporating the visitor’s car park would
   1. be out of character to the Yarra street and the this pocket of Abbotsfords
   2. potentially reduce the afternoon sun into 15 Paterson Street backyard
   3. potentially raise the risk to maintaining privacy into the backyard of 15 Paterson Street
   4. create a very imposing structure only metres from 15 Paterson Street backyard fence
   5. Add to the existing parking woes to the residents of Yarra street and Paterson street
   6. set a height precedent for this pocket of Abbotsford

2. We are owners of 7 Paterson St, and tenants at 15 Paterson St. The proposed buildings are a concern to us, both as property owners and tenants.
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   - The height of these buildings would reduce sunlight, skyline, and views to neighboring houses.
   - It is a concern that the proposed plans have windows that look directly into no. 15 Paterson St., providing no privacy for residents at no. 15.
   - The proposed buildings would be an eyesore in this pocket of Abbotsford. The proposed buildings are out of character with the area and convent precinct. They would also obscure the view of the convent spire from surrounding streets. This is a short sighted plan, with no consideration for the attraction of many visitors to the Abbotsford convent.
   - Further, the proposed building would put a huge pressure on existing parking issues in the area. I understand that City of Yarra supports a clean environment, and is not committed to providing parking spaces, but this plan does not consider visitors parking, and the added impact this would place on neighbours.

3. It is important to note that individuals need to put in separate objections as outlined by the planning officer comments below:

   "Council will carefully consider each objection, regardless of how many objections are received. However, Council must consider a wide range of factors when making a decision, including State planning policy objectives relating to increased housing density and urban consolidation, in addition to objections from local residents. Council’s decisions must achieve a balance between these (often conflicting) considerations.

   You have correctly pointed out that we do not count each signatory to a petition individually. Each concerned resident must prepare a unique individual objection, clearly stating how they will be affected by the proposal. The objection form is available on the City of Yarra website.

   If we receive 1-5 objections, the application will be decided by the planning coordinators at a DAP meeting. If we receive 6+ objections, the application will be determined at a meeting of IDAC. "

   The recent objection by the body Corporate of 121-123 Yarra St to the previous development on this site was discounted because it read as one objection instead of 5. We will be preparing a response to this development proposal shortly.

4. I'm confused: it appears that the site in question has already been given the 'increased housing density and urban consolidation' treatment.

   I wonder which local and state planning principles examine the triple bottom line costs of demolishing sound buildings well before the end of their 'natural life', ie. the true cost in terms of wasting embodied carbon in the existing building materials?

   Parking should not be waived - if there is parking on the site already this should not be sacrificed to a greater footprint. Parking in this area is a premium - a waiver of parking requirements is just a licence for the developer to cut costs and erode amenity of current residents in this street.

5. I own the property at 15 Paterson Street, Abbotsford, and have lived in this small pocket of inner Melbourne for 27 years prior to moving to NE Victoria a little over a year ago.

   I have no objection to increasing the density of housing in Abbotsford, except where development plans are inappropriate and cause significant difficulties for neighbouring residents.

   The proposed four-story development has no precedent in the immediate area with regard to height: it will affect the afternoon sun on my property and, given the importance of sustainability in housing, the full benefits of winter sun will be lost (consider the ineffectiveness of solar panels planned for this property).

   Secondly, overlooking windows will destroy any privacy for residents of not only this home but also for a number of homes in the immediate vicinity. In recent years, I have had a couple of prowlers requiring the attendance of police - as a single woman, there is something distinctly uncomfortable about the potential of being part of someone's 'peep show'. If I had young children, as my tenants do, I would feel the same concern for them.

   In addition, the infrastructure (chiefly parking) is not adequate to cope with such a large increase in residents. We current residents have already attended numerous meetings, filled in surveys, about how best to resolve parking issues in Abbotsford. Any new developments must also take into consideration the influx of large numbers of people visiting the area (principally the Abbotsford Convent and Collingwood Children's Farm). A few years ago, the Good Shepherd Sisters had the foresight to include underground parking for their block of apartments in Clarke Street.

   Could we please have developments that are not made simply to maximise profits with all 'costs' being borne by local residents. Can we have developments that put sustainability higher on the priority list. Finally, can we have developments with a vision for the future of this area. This way, in the end, everyone wins.

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