Notification
11 The application was notified to nearby owners and occupants between 19 March and 18 April 2003 and in accordance with cl 61J of the KPSO, a notice was placed in the North Shore Times on 19 March 2003 and 26 March 2003 and the council received sixty, (60) submissions and a petition of seventy-one (71) signatories.
12 The development application was referred to the council's development engineer on 4 April 2003, who indicated that the proposal was not satisfactory for a number of reasons, particularly in relation to vehicle access and storm water drainage.
13 The council's landscape officer indicated that the proposal would have a number of adverse impacts on the existing and proposed landscaping.
14 The council's urban design and heritage consultant indicated that the proposal is out of character with the area and of poor design.
15 The applicant was notified of the council's concerns by letter dated 22 September 2003, and on 26 November 2003, an additional landscape and an hydraulic plan were submitted by the applicant's architect.
The council's decision
16 By notice dated 1 June 2004 under delegated authority the council refused the application for the following reasons:
1. The proposed development is out of character with the established streetscape.
2. The bulk and scale of the proposed development would result in significant visual impact on adjoining properties.
3. The proposed development does not adequately incorporate opportunities to maximise solar access.
4. Insufficient area has been allocated for landscape and screen planting to ensure adequate visual privacy for adjoining properties.
5. Significant impacts on the existing established vegetation would occur as a consequence of excavation and drainage works associated with the basement car parking.
6. The proposed means of site drainage and storm water management do not satisfy Council's Stormwater Management Policy.
7. Insufficient information has been provided to determine whether driveway grades comply with Australian Standard 2890.1 1993 "Off street car parking".
The hearing
17 The appeal was filed on 15 July 2004.
18 Mr N R Kennan, consultant town planner is the Court-appointed expert. He was appointed 17 September 2004.
19 Mr C F Blyth, consultant town planner, advised the applicant, and Ms J Grant, consultant town planner of Woodhut Pty Limited, prepared the statement of basic facts and assisted the respondent at the on-site hearing.
20 Mrs J A Thornton, resident of No 56 Grosvenor Street, Wahroonga, whose submission was contained in Exhibit 9, p 53, dated 22 March 2003, was concerned among other things, about privacy and traffic impacts, the spoiling the ambiance and adverse impacts on flora and fauna.
21 Mr B A Pointon, resident of No 45 Braeside Street, Wahroonga, referred to his letter of objection in Exhibit 9, p 116, dated 18 April 2003. He supported some of the concerns expressed by others.
22 Mr A J Plaier, resident of No 60 Grosvenor Street, Wahroonga, referred to his letter in Exhibit 9, pp 64-5, dated 12 April 2003.
23 Mr A Papallo, the neighbour to the south at No 50 Grosvenor Street, Wahroonga, referred to his letter in Exhibit 9, pp 102-3, dated 17 April 2003. He said that he was in complete opposition to the proposal for reasons of:
· Precedent.
· Significant shade to northeastern side of his property. Very significant shade would affect his breakfast, and living areas.
· Stormwater runoff increased by greater ground cover.
· Structural impact of excavation in his dwelling, which was built around 1932 with lime mortar.
· Visual privacy as the proposal would intrude being two-storeys in height.
· Acoustic privacy would be a negative impact, due to more cars and garbage truck into garage.
· Traffic impact on Grosvenor Street.
· Fire fighting access. Main access to Ku-ring-gai National Park. Another 16 cars to clog the roads.
24 Mr A Gooch, resident of No 5 Darri Avenue, Wahroonga, referred to his letter prepared in consultation with his partner Ms C Burn, in Exhibit 9, pp 81-3 dated 16 April 2003 expressed concern, and also spoke on behalf of his neighbours who would be directly overlooked by future residents of the proposal. He strongly objected to the proposal and raised a range of points including: loss of privacy; intrusiveness of height and bulk, which would be exaggerated by the fall in the land; proximity to the boundaries that sets this apart from other homes; sight lines to his extension around 33m distant; the lack of screening vegetation in winter due to the large Liquid ambar being deciduous. He considered this proposal would be "…a psychological inhibiter as people would feel like they are being watched." He suggested that the Court should treat the application as "an ambit claim" , and preferred that it be refused. If not refused the Court should moderate the impacts and force the developer to remove Unit 8 and amend the proposal to single-storey only. Other issues cited by him included loss of amenity in the area.
25 Mr B M Bartlett, resident of No 48 Grosvenor Street, Wahroonga, referred to his letter in Exhibit 9, pp 128-9, dated 9 April 2003 and reiterated his concerns including: "…the need to relate to the character of the houses already here" ; stormwater; the top floor should not be the same size as the lower floor. He considered there to be an oversupply of SEPP5 housing in the area and as evidence of this he suggested that some are unable to be sold. He characterised these developments as "…large blocks of units." He said the plans do not show trees and there would not be enough space for planting; no visitor parking; escape route in time of bushfires; poor transport and there is a bus service in morning and afternoon. He said that depreciation in value of properties would result.
26 Mr W H Lemke, resident of No 34 Junction Road, Wahroonga, was not present, but attention was drawn to his letter in Exhibit 9, p 68, dated 14 April 2003, and that he had similar concerns to those of Mr Bartlett. He was concerned that the size of development would not be in keeping with the area and does not qualify under SEPP5. As the applicant was seeking a maximum development, it would result in a fall in property values.
The issues
27 On 24 August 2004 the council filed a statement of issues:
Streetscape, bulk and character
1. Whether the proposed development should be approved having regarding to its impact on the streetscape and its scale, and whether the proposed development is out of character with the area due to its size, bulk, excessive site coverage and unimaginative architectural treatment.
Particulars:
4. Clause 25(a)(i) of State Environmental Planning Policy No 5 - Housing for Older People or People with a Disability (SEPP5) ('...contribute to ... attractive residential environment...').
5. Clause 25(a)(iii) of SEPP5 ('...providing building setbacks that progressively increase...').
6. Clause 25(a)(iv) of SEPP5 ('...maintain reasonable neighbour amenity and appropriate residential character by using building form and siting that relates to the site's land form...').
7. Clause 25(a)(v) of SEPP5 ('...maintain reasonable neighbour amenity and appropriate residential character by adopting building heights at the street frontage that are compatible in scale with adjacent development...').
Visual privacy in relation to adjoining properties
1. Whether the proposed development should be approved having regard to its impact on the visual privacy of residents of adjoining properties and the lack of sufficient area for landscaping to screen the proposed development.
Particulars:
(a) Clause 25(b)(i) of SEPP5 ('...consider the visual ... privacy of neighbours in the vicinity and residents by ... appropriate site planning, the location and design of windows and balconies, the use of screening devices and landscaping...').
(b) The proposed development will have an unacceptable impact on the visual privacy of residents of adjoining properties, especially the adjoining properties to the west and north of the proposed development.
Visual privacy in relation to residents
3 Whether the proposed development should be approved having regard to its impact on the visual privacy of residents of the proposed development.
Particulars:
(a) Clause 25(b)(i) of SEPP5.
(b) The visual privacy of residents is compromised by the arrangement of units around a central corridor.
(c) Many rooms have windows facing the shared covered walkway.
(d) The common stairway overlooks the balcony and the windows of the lounge of Unit 1.
Solar access
4. Whether the proposed development should be approved having regard to matters of solar access and energy efficiency.
Particulars:
(a) Clause 25(c) of SEPP5 ('...ensure adequate daylight to the main living areas of residents ... involve site planning, dwelling design ... that reduces energy use and makes the best practical use...').
(b) Few bathrooms will have windows. The units will have windowless central corridors.
(c) Many rooms will have windows facing the shared covered walkway.
(d) Units having northern aspects will have winter sun excluded from living rooms by deep balconies.
Impacts on existing vegetation
5. Whether the proposed development will have an unacceptable impact on existing vegetation, which is indicated as being retained.
Particulars:
(a) The excavation for the proposed basement garage and the excavation for drainage adjacent to the wall of the basement garage will have an unacceptable impact on the existing screen planting of Camellias on the northern boundary of the site.
(b) The Chinese Elm located in the front setback will be adversely affected by the excavation for the basement garage, and by the position of units 1 and 4, which will be within the dripline of the canopy of the tree.
(c) The Scribbly Gum located adjacent to the southern site boundary will be adversely affected by the proposed masonry retaining wall as the wall is within the critical root zone of the tree.
Site drainage and stormwater management
5 Whether the proposed means of site drainage and stormwater management is adequate.
Particulars
(a) Clause 25(d) of SEPP5.
(b) The provisions of Council's Stormwater Management Policy.
(c) The Stormwater Concept Plan submitted with the development application is unsatisfactory in that:
· no provision has been made for on site retention of stormwater;
· the design is inadequate in relation to the detention storage volume and the permissible site discharge;
· the on-site detention storage is located in a deep soil planting zone;
· the connection pit for the inter-allotment drainage is under a proposed new canopy tree; and
· evidence of the downstream neighbour's consent to the proposed drainage easement has not been provided to Council.
Car parking
6 Whether the proposed development complies with Australian Standard 2890.1 - Off-street car parking (Standard).
Particulars:
(a) Insufficient information has been provided with the development application to determine whether:
· the driveway grades comply with the Standard;
· the headroom for the proposed basement carparking area complies with the Standard.
(b) The dimensions of the 90 degree bend at the entrance to the carpark do not comply with the Standard.
Inconsistency of information in development application
7 Whether the proposed landscaping can be achieved having regard to the position of some of the proposed landscaping shown on the Landscape Concept Plan (No 03027DAl Rev B) which is inconsistent with the position of some of the proposed drainage works as shown on the Stormwater Concept Plan (No SW-01).