The Entrance: Six-storey unit block on Fairport Ave, Ocean Parade comes before local planning panel

A controversial unit block DA approved at The Entrance 15 years has been put on hold by the local planning panel.

A final decision on a controversial unit block DA which was approved 15 years ago at The Entrance has been put on hold.

The Central Coast Local Planning Panel has deferred its decision on the $20m six-storey apartment proposal on corner of Fairport Ave and Ocean Pde which has been changed to include more units.

At its meeting on September 23, the panel heard concerns from local residents indicating that “physical commencement of the DA”, initially approved in 2006, had not started by its 2009 deadline. If this is the case, the DA approval would have lapsed.

A DA has been lodged for a six storey unit block at Fairport Ave and Ocean Parade at The Entrance.

However the applicant as well as Central Coast Council have indicated that work had started on the development.

The panel has deferred its decision for the applicant to provide evidence that physical commencement had started and for council to look at shadowing concerns expressed by locals.

The DA, proposed by Fincorp Pty Ltd, was initially approved for 45 units in 2006 by the former Wyong Council. It has since been changed to 56 units along with removal of the level three of the basement carparking reducing the car spaces from 84 to 72.

Other changes include internal modifications to apartments, changing the rooftop private open space to communal open space, external design changes and increasing the building height from 22.47m 23.7m due to the life overrun.

The DA, which council has recommended for approval, came to the panel after attracting 25 objections from local residents. Residents in the adjoining Hariott building fear parking around the area will be “severely compromised”, while others have stated the amended DA should be assessed against current planning controls.

Artists impression of the proposal.

When the original DA was approved in 2006, Wyong Council permitted a maximum building height of 18 metres, while current planning controls only allow for a maximum of 12 metres.

Trevor Nicholson, a resident of the Hariott building, said the development would result in views losses for residents along with boundary trees shadowing his building.

“The impact of the loss of view and increased shadowing will have an extreme detrimental affect on our amenity and mental well being,” he said.

He said he was bewildered at how the council could still accept a building 23m in height.

“This is a very sad indictment on our council’s ability to fulfil its policy commitments and protect the interests of local residents,” he said.

Helen Monks questioned the timelines regarding when the original DA approval lapsed in 2009 and called for proof in terms of the physical commencement of the development.

The DA has been changed from 45 to 56 units.

A council spokeswoman confirmed the lapse date of June 19, 2009 and said the council had received receipts for demolition works dated June 12, 2009.

Local resident Robyn Parker highlighted that the current local environment plan (LEP) reduced maximum heights to 12m to protect the amenity of neighbouring properties.

She said the current DA was “hugely non-compliant” with the latest development standards including the 23m building height, while the drop in carparks was also unacceptable.

“You can’t get a park on the street now,” she said.

“If approved this will deliver a short term economic windfall for cash-strapped council but a really disastrous long term impact for The Entrance.”

Planner Giovanni Cirillo spoke on behalf of the applicant and said the development was very similar to the one that had already been approved. He said the council report indicated that the changes improve the development overall.

Site of the proposed development which has attracted 25 objections regarding landscaping, overshadowing, height concerns and parking concerns.

“It improves environmental outcomes and has improved environmental amenity and usability as a residential flat building designed in accordance with contemporary design standards,” he said.

Architect Evan Pearson said in terms of shadowing, the impacts of the amended DA are similar to those of the original DA.

“We believe that this is a superior outcome to the development already approved,” he said.

He said the removal of the rooftop pools to be replaced with a communal open space was also a better outcome in terms of residential amenity.

Mr Pearson said the extra landscaping allowed “a greater integration into the natural environment”.

The panel’s decision will appear on the council’s website in the coming days.