Is cl 66(2) a development standard?
15The starting point in determining whether cl 66(2) is a development standard (and consequently being amenable to a SEPP 1 objection) is the definition in s 4 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The definition states:
development standards means provisions of an environmental planning instrument or the regulations in relation to the carrying out of development, being provisions by or under which requirements are specified or standards are fixed in respect of any aspect of that development, including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, requirements or standards in respect of:
(a) the area, shape or frontage of any land, the dimensions of any land, buildings or works, or the distance of any land, building or work from any specified point,
(b) the proportion or percentage of the area of a site which a building or work may occupy,
(c) the character, location, siting, bulk, scale, shape, size, height, density, design or external appearance of a building or work,
(d) the cubic content or floor space of a building,
(e) the intensity or density of the use of any land, building or work,
(f) the provision of public access, open space, landscaped space, tree planting or other treatment for the conservation, protection or enhancement of the environment,
(g) the provision of facilities for the standing, movement, parking, servicing, manoeuvring, loading or unloading of vehicles,
(h) the volume, nature and type of traffic generated by the development,
(i) road patterns,
(j) drainage,
(k) the carrying out of earthworks,
(l) the effects of development on patterns of wind, sunlight, daylight or shadows,
(m) the provision of services, facilities and amenities demanded by development,
(n) the emission of pollution and means for its prevention or control or mitigation, and
(o) such other matters as may be prescribed.
16Mr Clay and Mr Kirk rely largely on the same cases to support their different submissions. The relevant principles in determining whether a provision is a development standard are stated in Strathfield Municipal Council v Poynting (2001) 116 LGERA 319 at [96]-[99] and applied by Tobias JA (Giles JA and McClellan CJ at CL in agreement) in Residents Against Improper Development Inc and Another v Chase Property Investments Pty Ltd (2006) 149 LGERA 360 at [50]; see also Agostino v Penrith City Council (2010) 172 LGERA 380). Mr Kirk also relies on Blue Mountains City Council v Lawrence Browning Pty Limited (2006) 67 NSWLR 672 and North Sydney Municipal Council v P D Mayoh Pty Ltd [No.2] (1990) 71 LGERA 222.
17As set out in Poynting, a two-step approach is advocated at [96] - [99]:
96. The matters in the construction of the definition discussed by Mahoney JA in P D Mayoh Pty Ltd [No.2] mean that, in order that a provision fall within the definition as a development standard, there must be a development in respect of an aspect of which the provisions specifies a requirement or fixes a standard A provision prohibiting the development in question (the use of land, subdivision of land, erection of a building etc, see the definition of 'development' in the Act) under any circumstances will be a provision controlling development, but it will not be a development standard. The availability of SEPP No 1 will fail at the first step.
97. Beyond this, the debate should be over the second step, whether the provision specifies a requirement or fixes a standard in relation to an aspect of the (non-prohibited) development. I consider one can profitably return to the observations of McHugh JA in Woollahra Municipal Council v Carr, to his Honour's reminder of the need to define the development and its aspects before it can be whether the provision in question is a development standard. Referring again to the definition of 'development standards', there must be a provision in relation to the carrying out of development, and then the provision must specify a requirement or fix a standard in respect of an aspect of that development. Having identified the development in relation to which there is the provision, the aspects of that development must be considered in order to say whether the provision specifies a requirement or fixes a standard in respect of an aspect of the development.
98. If the provision does not prohibit the development in question under any circumstances, and the development is permissible in circumstances expressed in the provision (whether positively or negatively, see the forms of provision earlier stated), in most instances the provision will specify a requirement or fix a standard in respect of an aspect of the development. In the absence of control, and subject for example to the private law of nuisance, a landowner may develop his land as he sees fit. Control by complete prohibition on the development in question will not leave room for requirements or standards. But anything less than complete prohibition means that there can be the development in question, and provided a relevant aspect of the development is identified the control will be by imposition of a development standard.
99. In the debate over the second step, whether the provision specifies a requirement or fixes a standard in relation to an aspect of the (non-prohibited) development, the key will be identification of a relevant aspect of the development. The list of aspects in paragraphs (a) to (n) of the definition of 'development standards' in s4(1) of the Act shows that a broad view of what is an aspect of a development should be taken. North Sydney Municipal Council v P D Mayoh Pty Ltd (No 2) must be regarded as a case in which the majority considered that the provision in substance prohibited the development under any circumstances, not because of something in the definition of the development (see Clarke JA's comments on the observations of McHugh JA in Woollahra Municipal Council v Carr) but because, as part of the environmental planning instrument as a whole, in the prohibition on erection of a residential flat building the governing characteristic was land with adjoining high buildings, so there was relevantly a prohibition on development in any circumstances.
18Mr Clay submits that the relevant questions are firstly, does cl 66(2) prohibit the development under any circumstances and, secondly, if not, does cl 66(2) specify a requirement or fix a standard in relation to an aspect of the development. In response, Mr Clay states that firstly, public parking is permitted with development consent in the City Centre zone and cl 66(2) does not prohibit public car parking on a given site, in certain circumstances. Rather, it specifies the demand for which the car park should be designed to satisfy. Secondly, there are any number of aspects of the carrying out development for the provision of public car parking, and the number of car parking spaces and the configuration of the overall design. The requirement in respect of that aspect is that the car parking directly services major retail, cultural, recreational and entertainment uses which are not otherwise reasonably or adequately serviced in the manner required.
19For these reasons, cl 66(2) is a provision of an environmental planning instrument in relation to the carrying out of development (the provision of public car parking) by or under which requirements are specified (what demand the parking is to service) in respect of an aspect of the provision of car parking (how it is designed to meet the required need). It follows that cl 66(2) is a development standard and is amenable to an objection under SEPP 1.
20Mr Kirk comes to a different conclusion to Mr Clay based on the well established and accepted legal principles for determining whether a provision is a development standard. The legal principles are, first, the development that relates to the relevant provision, must be a development that is permitted or permissible. This can only be determined by first referring to the terms of the planning instrument (Mayoh at p 235). Second, the zoning criteria do not have to be exclusively located in the zoning section of an LEP. Mr Kirk submits that the better approach is to ask whether the provision has a zone (or permissible /prohibitive) character (Lawrence Browning at [81] and [91] to [93]). Third, a particular type of development may, in general terms be permissible, but prohibited in certain circumstances (or a conditional rather than absolute prohibition). This might involve an additional step, contained in a provision in an LEP, to determine the ultimate permissibility (Lawrence Browning at [32], Mayoh at p 234 and Poynting at [99]). Fourth, even if the prohibition is conditional, rather than absolute, this is not fatal to determine whether the particular provision can be resolved at the first step (that is, a prohibition) (Agostino at [50] and Lawrence Browning at [49] - [50]).
21Using these principles, Mr Kirk submits that it is necessary to identify the "development" that may be permitted. In this case, it is a public car park. Clause 66(2) does not specify requirements or standards, which are external to the aspects of that development. It specifies whether or not the development is permissible at all, which depends on establishing the need for the public car park.
22Mr Kirk submits that the argument over whether cl 66(2) is a development standard fails with the first step in Poynting, that it is, it is a development that is not permitted or not permissible; having the character of a prohibition. Clause 66(2) does not specify requirements or standards. It specifies whether or not the development is permissible at all, which depends on establishing a need for the public car park. The cl 66(2) issue is "an essential element" of the particular development (Poynting at [36] and Lawrence Browning at [77]), namely the need for and justifiability of the development all, but whether or not a new public car park may be brought into existence. It is an-all-or nothing provision and if the requirement in cl 66(2) is met, then the development may go ahead (subject to a merits review) and if it is not, it is not permissible.
23The development also fails the second step in Poynting according to Mr Kirk. The criteria in cl 66(2) are not "an aspect of that development". They are criteria, which are concerned, with whether there is,(in the opinion of the consent authority) a need for a new public car park. The clause does not specify a requirement or fix a standard in relation to that development. A need is not a development standard and could not be said to be in relation to the carrying out of development itself, rather it is with respect to consideration of larger strategic planning issues.
24The matters in pars (a) to (g) of the definition of development standards provide an indication of the scope of the concept of a development standard. Even accepting that the list is not exhaustive, none of the matters include the kind of criteria contained in cl 66(2). These criteria are of a different genus. The criteria in cl 66(2) are not an aspect of that development that can, for example, be modified, altered, deleted or changed. The criteria in cl 66(2) are directed at determining whether the provision of public car parking is needed in the area rather than an aspect of the proposed development.
25In balancing the competing submissions, I agree with Mr Kirk. The agreed approach is set out in Poynting, where a two stage approach is adopted. On the first stage, I do not accept the submission of Mr Clay that because car parking is a permissible use in the City Centre zone then this satisfies the first stage in Poynting, This was a matter squarely addressed in Lawrence Browning at [32], Mayoh at p 234 and Poynting at [99]. In the words in Lawrence Browning at [32], cl 66(2) "is another element(s) in a particular LEP which should properly be treated as the same way as the zoning table". I agree with Mr Kirk that cl 66(2), in this case, has the effect of a prohibition and as such, the proposed development fails the first step in Poynting.
On the second step, I also do not accept Mr Clays submission that the aspect of the development is the demand to which the development is to meet or service. I accept the submission of Mr Kirk that the criteria in cl 66(2) are not "an aspect of that development". They are criteria that are concerned with whether there is a need for a new public car park. The clause does not specify a requirement or fix a standard in relation to that development. A need is not a development standard. It follows that the proposed development fails the second step in Poynting.
26For these reasons, cl 66(2) is not a development standard and as such is not amenable to an objection under SEPP 1.