Marino couple Chris and Deborah Fleetwood lodge new plans to prevent $680,000 house from being demolished
AN Adelaide couple whose $680,000 house is under threat of demolition have lodged new plans they hope will prevent it from facing the bulldozer. Here are the concessions they are willing to make.
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A MARINO couple have launched a last-ditch plan to stop their $680,000 house from facing the bulldozer.
Chris and Deborah Fleetwood this week told the Environment, Resources and Development Court they had lodged new plans for their house on The Cove Rd, that would eliminate overlooking of their neighbours’ properties.
Under the development application lodged with Marion Council, the couple would reduce the building’s height by 1.4m to 7.6m, remove a pergola and balcony from the back of their house and make changes to the windows.
Last month, Judge Jack Costello agreed to an application from neighbours Alex and Debra Paior for an order that the house be demolished.
It followed the court’s January finding that the Fleetwoods’ two-storey house created “unreasonable” and “excessive” overlooking and the council should never have approved it.
It was also too big for the site, Judge Costello and Commissioners Alan Rumsby and Stephen Hamnett decided.
The house was completed in 2013, but the couple never moved in because of lengthy court proceedings initiated by their neighbours.
The Fleetwoods said their proposed alterations would cost $250,000 to complete, and eliminate privacy issues.
They would include removing one double window facing west over the Paiors’ property and the sea, and add frosting up to 170cm high on the windows.
“There’s no overlooking at all,” Mr Fleetwood told the court.
The roof would be tilted along the lie of the land rather than at the opposite angle to it — an aspect of the house which was criticised in the judgment, for reinforcing its size.
A fence would also be built on the boundary of the two properties.
Mr Paior sat in the gallery during today’s court hearing but refused to answer questions outside court.
Marion Council intends to write to Planning Minister John Rau requesting the Development Assessment Commission be appointed to assess the application.
The matter will return to court on April 4 for the Paiors to respond to the new plans.