Belrose: Revamped plans for $44m apartment block on old library site draw resident ire
New drawings have emerged of the revamped $44m plan to redevelop the community eyesore that was the old Belrose library.
Manly
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Revamped plans for a controversial $44 million redevelopment of a dilapidated public library site have been lodged after they were rejected by Northern Beaches Council four months ago.
Developer, Platinum Property Advisers, wants to build a “shop top” project which includes 51 apartments, a gym, retails outlets and eateries on the abandoned Belrose library block.
But the new proposal is already drawing fire from locals who say it is too big and “out of character” with the neighbourhood.
In January the council said the development application for “Belrose Village Square” at 28 Lockwood Ave was incomplete and missing some information, but advised the DA could be re-lodged at a later date.
There were concerns from locals at the time about Platinum Property wanting to raise the height of the building more than three metres above the current permissible level.
The maximum building height for the site, under the Warringah Local Environment Plan 2011, is 8.5m, but the developer wanted to increase the height of part of the project to more than 12m.
The new DA is still seeking a “variation of the development standard pertaining to building height contained in Clause 4.3 of the Warringah Local Environmental Plan 2011”.
“Whilst there are some minor non-compliances with the numeric height control, the proposal absolutely satisfies Council’s objectives for being a good neighbour,” a consultant’s report contained in the DA documents said.
The report said that a central square in the development would contribute to the “village atmosphere desired by Council”.
“When combined with the proposal’s other public places including landscape paths, arcade and retail alcoves, 27pc of the site is dedicated to public benefit.”
The report said the “majority of the proposal complies with the council’s height control of 8.5m when perceived from adjoining streets and neighbouring properties”.
It said that the design and height fits in with its neighbours, the Glen Street Theatre and Glenrose shopping centre.”
A nearby resident, John Watt, has written to the council complaining that the three above-ground levels on Lockwood Ave appeared to be much higher than neighbouring properties and “out of synch with the neighbourhood”.
“The whole development appears to take up almost all of the site, surely this is not allowed?,” Mr Watt asked.
Ken and Narelle Jarrett told the council that the developer wanted to build an “inappropriate construction that is completely out of character in this locality”.
The council sold the 5,332 sqm block in 2017 to help raise money to go towards a more modern library nearby.
The money from the sale also went towards funding the Glen St Cultural Hub, including a revitalised Glen Street Theatre, which incorporates the new library, a cafe and meeting rooms.
Platinum Property has been contacted for comment.