Lightsview residents demand developer Peet halt construction of four-storey apartments over privacy, traffic concerns

RESIDENTS of one of Adelaide’s highly-acclaimed housing developments have called for a halt to high-density buildings citing privacy concerns, traffic congestion and fears their homes will be devalued.

Chris and Steph Chardon are concerned about the impact a neighbouring four-storey apartment building, presently under construction, will have on their privacy and house value once completed. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

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RESIDENTS of one of Adelaide’s acclaimed housing developments have called for a halt to high-density construction citing privacy concerns, worsening traffic congestion and fears the development is devaluing their homes.

Lightsview homeowners, some who have invested up to $1 million on properties in the northeastern suburb, claim West Australia-based developer Peet is pushing ahead with higher density development across the masterplanned community at the expense of existing residents.

Peet says up to 41 apartment blocks, comprising about 570 apartments are planned for the suburb 8km from Adelaide in line with the masterplan for the suburb with about 100 apartments completed and 56 under construction.

The resident anger comes as Port Adelaide Enfield has halted approval for two apartment buildings citing insufficient off-street visitor parking.

Resident Tony Kilvington, 62 who built a two-storey house in 2012, said Peet seemed “hellbent” on wanting to increase high-density living without communication or consultation with the community.

“As far as we’re concerned they need to stop them now otherwise it’s too late — Peet don’t really care about us, they only care about their profits,” he said.

“We’re not an extremist group, at the end of the day we are just concerned residents and we want to live in harmony and at the end of the day we feel this has been forced upon us with no consultation.

“There were certain aesthetics of the area that attracted us here, it was a new vibrant community, one that we wanted to be involved in.”

Concerned residents Vlad Forczak, Karina Hayward, Tony Kilvington and Steph and Chris Chardon who want a halt to the rate of what they describe as “high-rise” apartment developments in Lightsview. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Steph and Chris Chardon said they had invested close to $1 million on their Hillier Street house to be closer to their children but were shocked when they learned in October last year that a four-storey apartment building was being built across the road and which they said would overlook their backyard.

“If we knew when we bought our block that they were going to put these things in we wouldn’t have bought our block,” Mr Chardon, 68, who moved into the area in 2015, said adding he was concerned about the impact on the property value.

Peet managing director and chief executive Brendan Gore, responding via email to questions, said it was “unusual” any resident would be “surprised or disappointed by the housing mix, including apartments” as they had always been part of the masterplan.

“Lightsview is very proud of its masterplan and promotes the wide variety of homes

available to all home purchasers. It’s a community that’s designed for people keen to be

at the leading edge of sustainable living — including less reliance on motor vehicles,” he said.

“The first Lightsview apartments were built in the first stage of development, and the

delivery of further apartments is proceeding in line with the broader masterplan.

“While the zoning allows for up to six-storeys, the Lightsview Apartments will only be four-storeys.”

He said there is at least one on-street visitor park for every two homes “and of course residents are discouraged from using those for their own parking”.

Before and after images of Lightsview estate taken a decade apart.

Under a State Government rezoning of the area approved in November 2012 all residential development was reclassified Category 1 meaning existing residents do not need to be informed of new development and have no appeal rights.

PAE acting mayor Matt Osborn said the council’s concerns about Category 1 classification and associated reduction in off-street carparking and potential traffic congestion were “regrettably” not accepted by Planning Minister and local MP John Rau.

He said the council has halted approval of two apartments to the south of the estate because they do no provide sufficient off-street parking for visitors.

“It’s our view that there is limited capacity for these street to absorb the additional demand of visitor parking associated with the proposed apartments,” he said.

Mr Rau, who along with staff has met with concerned residents, said people who moved into the area did so on the understanding it was going to be a medium-density development including four-storey buildings.

But he said that more consideration could be given to the design of the buildings to minimise issues such as overlooking and impacts on adjoining residents, which he has raised with Peet.

He said he was “open” to having a conversation around having apartment building applications reclassified as a Category Two developments requiring notification of neighbours.

“The only point I’d make is if you make it Category Two and the development plan nonetheless says a four-storey building is okay the mere fact you have the right to be heard doesn’t necessarily change anything, but I understand why people want to be involved,” he said.