Renewed push for seniors living development at Frenchs Forest

A developer has resubmitted plans for a seniors living block on the northern beaches after it was refused for being too big and bulky last year.

The block is proposed for Skyline Place, Frenchs Forest. Picture: Platino Properties

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A developer has resubmitted plans for a seniors’ living block after it was refused for being too big and bulky last year.

Platino Properties has reduced the size and scale of the $34.2 million facility for Skyline Place, Frenchs Forest, in an attempt to gain approval.

However, neighbours of the development are still not happy.

The developer originally submitted plans for the facility in June last year.

It was proposed as being nine stories with 78 seniors living units and various commercial and office space.

It was refused by the planning panel in December with the panel stating “the scale, bulk and height of the proposal is not compatible with the existing and desired future character of the area”.

The original plans for the seniors’ living block that got refused. Picture: Platino Properties

The revised plans for the seniors living block. Picture: Platino Properties

They also said it did not provide enough landscaped areas in and around the block.

The developer has now come back with new plans which it says while “substantially the same development” is of “revised built form arrangement, reduced height and scale”.

In particular the height has been reduced from nine storeys to six and they have provided additional landscaped areas.

The number of seniors living units has dropped from 78 to 49 with five units per corridor compared to the previous 14.

“Platino Properties has carefully considered the reasons for refusal and developed an

amended scheme,” the applicant has said in the new DA.

“It is considered that the reasons for refusal are adequately addressed.”

However, neighbours aren’t convinced.

Another view of the revised proposal. Picture: Platino Properties

And how it looked as part of the old proposal. Picture: Platino Properties

Ken Arnold, of Frenchs Forest, has written to the panel and said it will cause traffic problems and difficulty parking.

Grant Gordon described it as an “overdevelopment” and said it was “out of character with the surrounding neighbourhood”.

Theo Zotos encouraged the panel to refuse it for a second time, because of what he said was “its poor relationship to surrounding land uses” and “excessive” bulk and scale.

However, the panel has received a letter of support from David O’Connor of Frenchs Forest who said it was needed to address a shortage of seniors housing in the area.

Sydney North Planning Panel will decide on the application on June 18.