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1. As the owner of 507 Albert St, West Brunswick, I thank Council for the opportunity to comment on MPS/2013/1025 - 505 Albert St, West Brunswick.

   My comments are requests for the Planning Department to consider several items of concern which probably hold no water at VCAT, but could potentially be addressed should Council and the applicant see their way clear to revisiting these items. Therefore I raise them as concerns that I would like Council to clarify, not an overall objection.

   I appreciate that the applicant has not applied for reverse living arrangements, which many of us in the street and the ward councillors have strongly advocated against, and that allowances have been made, e.g. via recessing the top floor and fairly considerate window/skylight arrangements, for the neighbours at 503.

   The concerns are:
   (1) overlooking of private backyards in 505A, 503 and my property (507) from the clear glass windows on the north-facing second storey

   (2) the overall size of the development given the narrow width of the shopfront - particularly the large monotone built form which runs for a large extent of the western border, and which - not being recessed at all - will overshadow the neighbouring house at 505A and its north facing verandah and be quite dominant from my viewpoint at 507 and from the viewpoint of the closest neighbours in Hunter and Albert St.

   (3) The taking of the sight-line from the high point of the parapet at the front of the house - this may not matter as the second storey is set back some way, but the sightline therefore may also not clearly represent what people will see from the street and the balance/imbalance between the lower and top floors, i.e. the overall height of the development. All the nearby surrounding buildings were built mainly in the early 1900s, except for a recent new development (509) which is itself single storey. As you will know, this end of Albert St is predominantly single storey, standalone houses, except for the 1880s Hoffman workers and managers' terraces. It has a single storey overall profile.

   (4) the increasing difficulties in parking in Albert St, given the tight access to parking in the lane and in such a small proposed garage - and considering that this will be a minimum three bedroom dwelling.

   Again, thank you for the opportunity to comment. I made no objections to the extension to 505A, or the new build at 509, but feel that there may be opportunity to reduce at least the overlooking and overall effect of this design, particularly on me and my neighbours at 505A and 503 and over the lane.

   Regards

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