654 Pacific Highway, 666 Pacific Highway, 1 Freeman Road and 2A Oliver Road, Chatswood NSW 2067

In a recent development proposal for 688-692 Pacific Hwy (page 312, http://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/DownloadDocument.ashx?DocumentID=11731)
the council commissioned an independent architect (Kennedy and Associates) to investigate the proposal. Given both developments are just 150m apart and both located on the same side of Pacific Hwy, the architect's report can serve a good reference for the 654 Pacific Hwy development as well.

Below is the conclusion from the report (page 312): (page 312, http://www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/DownloadDocument.ashx?DocumentID=11731):

"In our opinion, should this planning proposal be supported and approved it will have immediately redefined the urban character of Chatswood for the entire extent of the highway between at least Freeman Road and Railway Street and potentially much further.

This is the key urban design question raised by this planning proposal.

It is a strategic issue which only Council can address, but in our opinion, unless Council is prepared to accept a significant change in the urban character of not only CBD but also its immediately adjoining precincts' it would be wise to maintain the status quo and, limit the height of buildings along the western side of the Pacific Highway to something similar to those currently in place.

Alternatively, if the council are prepared to support a change in the use and height of the western side of Pacific Highway then it would be imperative for council to look at the entire strip in one single exercise and establish a new hierarchy of heights, including for the subject site."

In the architect's report it has reservation on the proposal to increase height of buildings on the western side of Pacific Hwy as it will create Island effect and would significantly change the urban character in the area.

The report was done few months after the council accepted proposal and rezoned the 654 Pacific Hwy property to allow the building height to increase from original 18m to 36m. This is very concerning as the council made a significant change without consulting an independent architect advice.

The development will create island effect if the building is allowed as it is surrounded by relatively new buildings which offer no possibility of redevelopment for a long period of time. For a building in that height it will be an island on the western side of pacific Hwy.

I strongly urge the panel to engage an independent architect to review the 654 Pacific Hwy development proposal and the entire strip in one single exercise to establish a new hierarchy of heights as suggested by the architect.

Yours Sincerely,
Aaron Wu