Anatomy of DFP ( State Govt’s Development Facilitation Program ) Planning Permit fast track / 2

Anatomy of a DFP ( State Government’s Development Facilitation Program )  Planning Permit fast tracked for James Packer’s 18 storey tower proposal for Kew Junction – Objection 3 of our 15.

PLANNING PERMIT No: PA2604213 Kew Village (26-36 Princess Street & 11-15 Brougham Street, Kew Junction)

Who shall we hold responsible and accountable for the permanent outcomes to the neighbourhood and residents from the issuing of the DFP Planning Permit ?

Of the 40 submissions received by DFP there was 1 in support and  39 objections:

          EVERYONE OBJECTION TO THE BUILDINGS’ HEIGHTS

The maximum building height in Victoria depends on the specific residential or commercial zone and any applicable local overlays (www.planning.vic.gov.au :

Maximum Heights by Zone

Residential Zones: Typically 9 meters (2 storeys) to 13.5 meters (4 storeys)

Kew Village = 18 storeys on a hill = 20 storey or 61 meters 

BUT our little one-way Brougham Street from High St to where Kew Village ends at 17 Brougham St, has been zoned CZ1 = Commercial Zone1.

Commercial Zone 1: Heights vary based on specific Design and Development Overlays (DDOs), local planning schemes...

•  CZ1 areas range from 8 to 12 storeys (approx. 20m to 34m), with select core or strategic sites allowing up to 16 storeys (approx. 40m)

YES, THE KEW VILLAGE SITE

•    Discretionary vs. Mandatory: Many commercial core height controls in Boroondara function as discretionary maximums

YES, THE KEW VILLAGE SITE HAS A DISCRETIONARY HEIGHT LIMIT (16 storeys)

We all the Brougham St residents objected to the discretionary height being applied to Kew Village, asked to bring it back down in line with all the other existing heights.

BUT our Council :  “From the Boroondara Planning Scheme..the proposed development is to vary in height from 4 to 18 storeys, with a maximum building height of 61.92m.

An application which does not meet the building or setbacks specified must demonstrate that the proposed development continues to meet the design objectives set out therein. 

It is considered the proposal continues to meet the design objectives, despite the departures to the preferred heights and setbacks proposed.

In this regard. the following is noted: The development represents a high-quality architectural design… The proposed design detail is sophisticated…

The subject site as a ‘large opportunity site’ and prescribes a discretionary 16 storey height control to the site… the different buildings proposed, the proposed development largely complies with the discretionary control. 

The proposal will not cause unreasonable off-site impacts, by way of overshadowing, overlooking, loss of daylight, visual bulk, noise and wind.

The views submitted with the application demonstrates that while the buildings are taller than existing built form, they will sit comfortably within the surrounding context and sufficient visual relief is provided in the design. “

17 Brougham St and 38 Princess St are single storey family homes and will be next door to this 6000sqm of concrete bulk towers – under no circumstances does this mass of concrete “sit comfortably” in our one-way narrow street or the surrounding landscape. We all get to look up at an 18 storey concrete bulk mass in our street, sophisticated is not our description. And the “off site impacts”, THAT is to US, the residents, people and families and our homes are not reasonable.

April 20th, Kew Council decision : Cr Sophie Torney put forth a motion that the development proceeds with the Council Town Planners’ suggestions ( yes, you just read it word for word) Motion Carried “ for Kew Village;

·       Our Council did not ‘battle for its residents’. Our Council made a ‘submission’ to the State Government; they did not OBJECT.

We pleaded with our Ward Councillor, Sophie Torney  to support us the residents and push back on the Government proposal in its current form – reduce the height back down. It is a discretionary height limit, then exceeded to 18 storeys, our Councillor could have said No.

CR SOPHIE TORNEY was campaigning in our little Brougham Street :

1.    Asked by a resident, about why she did not support us and object to the 18 storey height, she actually said she did. FACT : the resident said “No, I was in the room ; You made a submission for 16 storeys not 18 storeys”.

2.    Asked by a resident why she our representative did not support us in Brougham St to submit ‘an objection’ to State Government against Kew Village, CR Torney said she did. FACT : the resident challenged her, that her objection was about losing the existing Council Car Park and its income stream. 

Do not waste your vote, vote for someone who can make change happen, who will have decision making power. 

We the residents will continue to amplify and move to hold responsible those involved in this DFP process.

Thank you to all the legal  advice coming forward.

For me, as Premier, Jess Wilson will “tear up” the DFP & these housing towers’ strategy and restore our democratic planning rights.