Blue Bay: Townhouse plans for former church at 102 Bay Rd sparks anger

Plans to bulldoze a former church at Blue Bay to make way for three double-storey townhouses has sparked anger from nearby residents over privacy, parking and over development. Full details.

A DA has been lodged to demolish an old church at 102 Bay Rd, Blue Bay, to build three, double-storey townhouses. Picture: supplied

Knock-down-rebuild plans for an old timber church at Blue Bay have attracted opposition from surrounding residents who have lodged objections based on privacy, parking and a desire to keep the former gospel chapel.

A development application (DA) has been lodged for the 696.7sq m site, just north of the Toowoon Bay shops, to demolish the existing residence, a granny flat and storage shed and build three, two-storey townhouses, a common driveway, front fencing and landscaping works.

“The multi-dwelling design would not result in any adverse environmental, amenity, social or

economic impacts to the site and surrounding area,” the DA states.

The building would have a maximum height of just over 8m and include five off-street parking spaces for residents, which is the minimum requirement under the site’s planning controls.

The development doesn’t include any visitor parking which the DA states was adequately covered by the “prevalence of unlimited off-street parking along Bay Rd”.

A former Christian church at 102 Bay Rd, Blue Bay, which is now subject to a development application to build three townhouses. Picture: supplied

The DA also states the lack of visitor parking means the development does not have to “provide additional concrete over the site” and therefore allows the landscaping to “maintain a leafy atmosphere”.

However the DA has received several public submissions objecting to the proposal, including claims the on-site parking is “inadequate”.

An artist's impression of the townhouses proposed for the site of a former church at 102 Bay Rd, Blue Bay, with the driveway on the other side. Picture: supplied

“Clearly the resultant overflow of vehicles will park on Bay Road where parking is already at a premium,” one submission states.

The DA states the living areas of the townhouses would be orientated towards their private courtyards to ensure privacy.

“The proposed units have been designed in a manner that would allow sufficient separation

and screening to alleviate the overlooking of the adjoining properties,” the DA states.

“The upper floors that contain small sitting areas are served by narrow windows with increased sill heights, thus alleviating the overlooking of the neighbouring properties.”

However a number of submissions state the townhouses would overlook six surrounding properties.

An artist's impression of the townhouses proposed for the site of a former church at 102 Bay Rd, Blue Bay. Picture: supplied

“Townhouse number three of the proposal has windows directly overlooking our pool/spa and garden area as well as a direct line of sight to our living area window,” one submission states.

“These areas represent our principal private space and as such the situation would be a gross invasion of our privacy. No doubt other properties will be similarly affected.”

The DA states the proposal is well suited to the site.

Then and now. The former church when it welcomed a congregation.

The buiding as it is now having been renovated into a private residence. Pictures: supplied

“The proposal provides the local area with a new affordable dwellings on a site that is

inherently suitable for such development,” the DA states.

“The proposal would not increase the intensity of development on the land is which reinforces and supports the planning objectives of the residential zone.”

A couple of the public submissions incorrectly believed the old church was heritage listed, while others would simply prefer it remained.

“The old church at 102 Bay road is iconic in our area and its demolition and subsequent construction of a three-unit development is yet another blight on our suburb,” one submission reads.

Another states: ‘The old church building, currently occupying 102 Bay Rd, is considered a landmark by many locals and to demolish this building would be considered a travesty by those residents of Blue Bay”.

The former church was known as the Toowoon Bay Gospel Chapel but has been a private residence since at least 2009, according to publicly available real estate records.