Knight v Coffs Harbour City Council
[2018] NSWLEC 1569
At a glance
Source factsCourt
Land and Environment Court (NSW)
Decision date
2018-10-23
Source
Original judgment source is linked above.
Judgment (14 paragraphs)
Judgment
- Victoria Street, in Coffs Harbour, follows a landform ridge with elevated coastal views to the north, south and east. At a point where that ridge is continuing to rise, at 117 Victoria Street, Mr and Mrs Knight seek development consent for the construction of a three storey residential flat building. A development application seeking the same was refused by Coffs Harbour City Council ("the Council") on 14 February 2018. Mr and Mrs Knight appeal against that decision pursuant to s 8.7(1) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 ("EPA Act").
- At the hearing of the appeal, leave was granted to Mr and Mrs Knight to amend the development application in accordance with amended plans the subject of a Notice of Motion filed on 15 October 2018. The amended plans modified the design of the proposed development by removing one apartment on the western side of the development. The proposed development for which consent is now sought is a three-storey residential flat building containing 7 apartments located on the ground and first floors, and 18 car parking spaces at the lower ground level.
- The modified design reduces the building height at the northwest corner, increases the setback of the building in the northwest corner, and mitigates the visual and privacy impacts on the neighbouring property to the north. In doing so, the amendments result in a proposed development that addresses the concerns raised by the Council in its Statement of Facts and Contentions. As a result, the Council now agrees to development consent being granted.
- In circumstances where the Council agrees to the grant of development consent, I am nonetheless required to carry out an assessment under s 4.15 of the EPA Act to determine if it is lawful and appropriate to grant consent. I am also required to consider the evidence and submissions of the objectors.
- For the reasons set out below, I have determined that it is appropriate to grant development consent. A residential flat building is permissible in the zone, and I have found that there is power to grant development consent notwithstanding the breach of the height development standard. In considering the merits of the application, the concerns of the resident objectors have been adequately addressed through the amended plans and the proposed conditions of development consent, and the proposed development is an appropriate response to the relevant planning controls and the urban context of the site. I have therefore determined to grant development consent subject to agreed conditions of consent.