Pretty Beach residents fight family’s dream home application for High View Rd
A family-of-five’s bid to build its dream home in the idyllic Central Coast hamlet of Pretty Beach has split the neighbourhood.
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A row over a family home described as a “monolithic edifice” has split residents of the quiet Central Coast hamlet of Pretty Beach.
Neighbours of the currently vacant block at 48 High View Rd are up in arms, claiming a proposal for a three story home would take away their valuable views and privacy.
The $500,000 development application, first submitted by Meg and Michael Simmonds in May 2018, came to Monday’s Central Coast Council meeting with a staff recommendation for approval.
It proposes a three storey, five bedroom house with a split level modern design, carport, swimming pool and viewing deck.
But the DA has attracted submissions from neighbours who oppose the proposed family home.
Alex Baitch, who owns the adjoining block in High View Rd, described the development as a “monolithic structure blocking out views in a totally selfish way”.
“We have always assumed at some stage a house would be built on the block but we’ve been shocked by the selfish and inappropriate design that has been proposed,” he said.
“We never imagined that a great monolithic edifice would be proposed projecting into the valley some 8m beyond the natural vista line of the valley and effectively impacting all of the residents further up High View Rd and across in Venice Rd.”
Mr Baitch said it was “nonsense” to assert that views across side boundaries cannot be protected and the development was a “selfish attempt to benefit from views to the detriment of the neighbourhood”.
He said the viewing deck would overlook the neighbourhood, and the structure would block out all his views and sunlight.
Fellow resident Mignon Trethewey described Pretty Beach as a small community with open backyards.
She said the proposal puts a “three storey tower” in the middle of this community and will block views from houses to south east of the development by sitting right in the middle of the valley.
Meg and Michael Simmonds bought the land, which is one of the last remaining blocks on High View Rd, in December 2016.
Mrs Simmonds said the proposal reflected a “contemporary design keeping in with the character of the area” and reflects the steep topography of the area.
“We have remained reasonable,” she said. “This DA has been through rigorous assessment, with two notification processes and assessment by planning staff.
“We appreciate neighbours are used to a vacant parcel of land for many years … this design reflects the needs for a family of five.”
Council staff said the proposal was consistent with development in the immediate vicinity and within the Pretty Beach/Killcare hillside area.
The report states the building height exceeded council’s requirements by 7.6 per cent, however this was labelled “unnoticeable” and in keeping with a sloping block. It indicated there were no issues with privacy.
A decision on the proposal has now been deferred so a site inspection can take place.
*This article has been edited and corrected. This development application did not receive “50 submissions” as was initially reported. Neither does the development application provide for “a Colorbond fence”. These details were incorrect and the Express Advocate apologises to Mr and Mrs Simmonds for these inaccuracies.*
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