Residents have concerns with $37m, seven-storey residential development in Parkside

Street trees and privacy will be lost for an approved $37m, seven-storey development in an affluent Adelaide suburb, documents say – and residents aren’t happy.

The development raised concerns with nearby residents. Picture: Austar Group.

Street trees and privacy will be lost for an approved $37 million, seven-storey development in Parkside, residents say in documents lodged with the State Government’s assessment panel show.

Austar Group successfully applied for two mixed use buildings, involving commercial and residential, with basement carparking for 164 spaces at 12-16 Glen Osmond Road.

Located at the Cappo Fresh Seafood buildings, the plan includes commercial tenancies on the ground and first floor, and 35 residential apartments and four townhouses from level two to six.

The applicant said “extensive landscaping” had been proposed while providing “a high

level of amenity to the private and public realm”.

The development includes 35 residential apartments. Picture: Austar Group.

However, Unley Council and several residents raised concerns with the panel, including potential overlooking, overshadowing and a loss of trees on the northern side of Chinner Avenue.

Residents also feared it would have impacts on property values, create traffic issues on Chinner Avenue and there was limited public consultation.

One resident, Angela Cook, said the development was “excessive and by no means in keeping with the nature of this area”.

“A building of such height will be detrimental to our amenity, will result in loss of sunlight and decline in property value,” Ms Cook submitted.

Another, Michael Waters, argued against the removal of street trees which provided “canopy, shelter and charming character to the streetscape”.

“Planting of ‘street friendly’ trees in their place will be a poor pastiche of the current situation, and there will be considerable lead time before the new trees are mature enough to have their desired impact,” Mr Waters submitted.

The $37m project includes four townhouses. Picture: Austar Group.

He also said “it appears there will certainly be overlooking into our upstairs bathroom.”

Cea-Cea Moller said it would “reduce my quality of life”.

“Residents of the proposed development will be able to see into my backyard and will make me feel uncomfortable,” Ms Moller submitted.

However, eight replacement trees will be planted, plus 22 on site, and an appropriate separation distance of approximately 50m is maintained from “potential overlooking vantage points”, the application stated.

“During the winter solstice the dwellings to the immediate southwest will be overshadowed for a period of 4 hours between 8am to 12pm in which a majority of the shadow cast by the development will fall over Chinner Avenue,” it stated.