The Entrance: Over height rooftop terrace a sticking point for Torrens Ave unit block proposal

A private rooftop terrace is proving to be the sticking point for a proposed three-storey, 15-unit apartment building at The Entrance. Read the planning panel’s decision here.

A development application (DA) has been lodged for a $6.34M residential flat building for 33-35 Torrens Ave, The Entrance. Picture: supplied

A landscaped rooftop terrace complete with a pergola would provide residents with highly sought after communal open space to relax and unwind.

But it would also add the equivalent of an extra storey to the proposed development and exceed the site’s maximum building height by as much as 20 per cent.

That is the competing forces faced by the Local Planning Panel which has deferred its decision on a proposed $6.34 million residential flat building at The Entrance to allow the developer and council staff to thrash out a solution.

The development application (DA) for 33-35 Torrens Ave went before the Local Planning Panel last Thursday which resolved to give the developer, Phil Hadi, and the assessment staff from Central Coast Council, until April 6 to address the grounds for refusal outlined in council’s assessment report.

The DA seeks to demolish an existing weatherboard house on one of the two adjoining blocks and build a three-storey apartment block made up of 15 one, two and three bedroom units.

A development application (DA) has been lodged for a double block on the corner of Torrens and Fairview avenues, The Entrance. Picture: supplied

Under the plans the building would also feature a basement car park for 21 spaces and a large, centrally located rooftop terrace accessible from the lift and surrounded by private landscaped gardens.

However the rooftop terrace and pergola brings the total height of the proposed development to 14.45m, which is about 20 per cent above the maximum permissible height of 12m for the site.

The private rooftop terrace in the centre would essentially provide an extra storey to the building. Picture: supplied

In its report to the planning panel, council said the DA did not adequately justify the increased height.

“The height increase is not simply for a lift overrun and fire stairs; it provides full height access to the communal open space with a pergola for the roof top terrace,” council’s report states.

“The height increase creates an extra storey visible from both streets. The people on the roof garden would overlook the one storey neighbouring houses and this would impact on privacy of adjacent residents.

“Additionally, there are potential noise impacts from the use of this area which have not been addressed under the proposal. The bulk and scale of the building is not compatible with the surrounding development.”

However the DA states the height is justified compared with other unit blocks in the immediate vicinity and provides a high level of amenity while maintaining privacy.

“This is achieved by locating the roof terrace area in the centre of the roof area with a generous perimeter of landscaping which softens the edges and provides privacy from the adjacent sites,” the DA states.

“The communal landscaped area is setback from the building edges to maximise privacy. This area is centrally located and is accessible from the lift. The communal open space is consolidated into one larger area with a minimum dimension of at least 8m and has been designed to maximise opportunities for recreational activities.”

The DA received one public submission when it was placed on exhibition and it related to the building not being appropriate next to a park.

However the submission was not given much weight given the site was not located next to a park but rather was, itself, largely a vacant block.

The Local Planning Panel is expected to deliver its final decision after its meeting on April 6.