Point Frederick: 23-room boarding house plans approved by the local planning panel

A decision has been made on controversial plans for a boarding house on York St in Point Frederick after changes were reviewed by the local planning panel. See the outcome here.

23-room boarding house plans for York St Point Frederick are coming to the Central Coast Local Planning Panel.

A proposed 23-room boarding house on a busy roadway in Point Frederick, previously described as an “overdevelopment”, has been approved.

Plans for 14 York St returned to the Central Coast Local Planning Panel on Thursday with changes as well as fresh objections.

The panel unanimously refused the $4.5m development in April 2022, labelling it an “overdevelopment” due to the size of the building compared to the dimensions of the Central Coast Highway site.

On Thursday, the applicant called for the panel to review its refusal given the changes made to reduce the bulk and impacts of the development

The panel has unanimously approved the development, stating that changes addressed previous grounds for approval.

Plans for a boarding house at 14 York St Point Frederick are returning to the Central Coast Planning Panel.

“The use is suited to the site and area and will assist in the provision of an affordable type of housing,” the panel’s decision reads.

The panel stated that the plans were in line with local planning guidelines in terms of bulk and scale.

“In terms of the character of the surrounding area, the proposal is not inconsistent with the existing and changing character of the area, including in terms of site planning, setbacks and form,” the decision states.

“While the proposal will result in some additional amenity impacts on neighbours (including overshadowing), this impact is not inconsistent with the level of impact to be expected from the applicable planning controls and largely arises from the existing relationship of sites and buildings.”

Revised artists impressions of the 23-room boarding house.

The plans include demolishing the four townhouses at the site to make way for a four storey boarding house with 23 rooms, including a manager’s residence, over a basement carpark.

Changes to the plans include adding a brick podium, “disconnection” of balconies, reduction in roof size to alleviate overshadowing, increased amount of screening and other measures to create sound and visual buffers for neighbours.

Central Coast Council recommended the plans be approved with the changes.

“The amendments to the proposal more appropriately address character and amenity to adjoining properties,” the council’s report to the panel states.

“The proposal is considered compatible with the character of the local area. It is acknowledged that boarding houses are an important source of accommodation and the need for affordable and low-cost housing on the Central Coast is high.

“The provision of a mix of affordable housing will have beneficial social impacts as it will provide additional affordable housing in Gosford.”

The plans were refused in April 2022 and are back up for debate.

When the changes were on public exhibition during August and September 2022, they received 12 submissions highlighting concerns that the building would be too tall and bulky, the lack of carparking, overshadowing and the plans being out of character for the area.

Neighbour Christina Clark addressed the panel, stating that her two main objections were solar access for neighbouring units and amenity impacts including privacy and noise.

“This is obviously not about design excellence and it’s just about pushing controls to try and make it fit,” she said.

“This definitely is the wrong building on the wrong site.”

Another neighbouring resident Natalie Rogers spoke about impacts of 14 doors opening and closing every day outside her home, CCTV cameras close by and 80 per cent of her home cast in shadow.

The said the “extremely massive” development would completely transform the street.

Breelle Varman, on behalf of the applicant, said the location was ideal for the development and many objectors had formed the negative and incorrect opinion that boarding houses attracted “undesirable” people.

She said all reasons for refusal, including the development being an “overdevelopment”, had been addressed in the changes.

Transport for NSW raised no objections to the changes while NSW Police advised that security cameras would be installed and an on-site manager would be present.