Mirvac’s IBM site development: community groups, neighbours issue 3000 objection letters to The Hills Shire Council
The mass objection against the development comes amid claims Mirvac developers ‘misguided residents with plans for the site’, with concept designs showing building heights would only be two storeys rather than three.
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More than 3100 objection letters have been delivered to The Hills Shire Council over controversial plans by Mirvac to redevelop the IBM site in West Pennant Hills into hundreds of homes.
The mass objection against the development of Coonara Rd, West Pennant Hills, which was handed delivered to Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne last week, comes amid claims Mirvac developers ‘misguided residents with plans for the site’, with concept designs showing building heights would only be two storeys rather than three.
In September, the Hills Shire Council voted to support an amended proposal by Mirvac to move forward to gateway determination, which supported the approval of of micro lot housing in The Hills - the first of its kind in the local government area - with lots as small as 86sq m.
That support followed a determination in June last year, which imposed increased environmental protections for the Cumberland State Forest by the NSW Government.
If approved, the Mirvac proposal for 55 Coonara Ave, West Pennant Hills, would see 200 medium-density townhouses and 400 apartments developed across the site in buildings of up to six storeys, as well as new roads and a synthetic turf field for public use.
However, since the approved plans were forwarded to the NSW Government for gateway determination, revisions have been made to see a large majority of the site increase in height
Coonara Rd resident Farida Irani hit out at Mirvac, claiming the community had a lack of confidence in what outcomes are being proposed for the site.
“Mirvac said just last week that there have been no changes in the proposal but we're looking at a significant change in the scale and population density of the Medium Density Residential Zone,” Ms Irani told the Times.
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"This will have a significant impact on the amenity of residents along Coonara Ave and within the Glade.
“Plus, with only one car space allowed per individual dwelling the extra cars are likely to be parking in the surrounding streets further adding to the loss of our neighbourhood amenity.”
Ms Irani said Mirvac “could have been a lot more transparent with the Valley residents".
Mirvac Development Director Adrian Checcin argued: “there has been absolutely no change to proposed height limit or the 600 home dwelling cap since our proposal was first supported by Council and Department of Planning and Environment in 2017.”
Mr Checcin said conceptual plans with a mix of housing types were included as part of a design package.
“But it is important to note height limits have remained unchanged and were detailed on seven different occasions, including community information sessions in December 2017 and November 2018,” he said.
“There is currently a 22 metre height limit over the entire site, including the forest, but Mirvac’s proposal reduces heights to 9 and 12 metres for houses and 22 metres for apartments at the back of the development, in addition we are maintaining forest area and dedicating it for public use.”
The diagrams referenced by concerned residents were concept from an urban design study from 2017 and 2018, which demonstrate housing types within the allowed zoned building heights of 22m high.
Mr Checcin said Mirvac’s proposal is for a “family-friendly community in a bushland setting and maintaining the forest area is key to our plan”.
“We look forward to working with the State Government and the community on Mirvac’s offer to dedicate the Forest Area as regional open space. We recently received a notification the State Government are currently reviewing the offer in consultation with The Hills Shire Council,” he said.
Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne said the issues residents are raising include the impact of the development on the forest, the number of dwellings being proposed, the micro-lot housing, distance from the station, traffic impacts and loss of amenity in West Pennant Hills.
“We all understand the need for different types of dwellings that provide a range of lifestyle choices for future and current residents, however any development needs to be well thought out, located in the right places with the right infrastructure and amenities in place to create a quality lifestyle,” Cr Byrne told the Times.
“I completely understand the locals concerns, particularly around the proposed units and the micro lot housing, a medium density product in a residential area that has always been known for its larger lot sizes and the potential changes it will bring to West Pennant Hills.
“I have always advocated that the site should remain as a business park for future employment for our rapidly growing population or used as an education facility however if the zoning needs to be changed we need to make sure we get the development right.”
She said the NSW Government can’t allow over development of any site purely because it happens to be close to a metro station.
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