High-rise plans around Northern Beaches Hospital abandoned
PLANS to put 22-storey towers in Frenchs Forest, as part of a new town centre surrounding the Northern Beaches Hospital, have been scrapped.
Manly
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PLANS to put 22-storey towers in Frenchs Forest as part of a new town centre surrounding the Northern Beaches Hospital have been scrapped.
At Tuesday night’s meeting, Northern Beaches councillors voted to knock back two separate suggestions to put buildings up to 70-metres high in a bid to create more green space.
The report prepared for councillors spoke of “trade-offs” the public had expressed interest in during consultation which included extra height to allow for more sunlight and open space.
But councillors chose a masterplan similar to original plans for a 40-metre height limits, citing overshadowing, and another year-plus of consultation before the plans could progress.
At the meeting residents spoke against the plans, with opponent Gopala Maurer labelling the high-rise plans “intensification by stealth”.
She spoke prior to the council’s decision and pointed to the original structure plan, and the long-held promise to not allow buildings higher than the 40-metre Hospital.
READ THE DETAILS OF THE THREE OPTIONS HERE:
“The council has repeatedly said they will not provide any further zoning to add any further dwellings due to lack of transport infrastructure,” she said at the meeting.
“Now the council proposes a delay to the plan for 18 months to get higher tower options with up to an additional 420 dwellings in the first stage without the supporting traffic infrastructure.
“This is developer-led planning.”
Ms Maurer, from anti-overdevelopment group Northern Beaches Strategic Community Group, argued that the proposed towers would reshape the entire Sydney skyline.
“No longer will iconic buildings like Centrepoint (Sydney Tower) and the Harbour Bridge be the first thing you see when flying over the northern beaches … it’ll be the mammoth towers at Frenchs Forest,” she said.
REVISED FRENCHS FOREST TOWN CENTRE COULD MEAN 10,000 NEW HOMES
Three alternative options, reported by the Manly Daily on June 23, were put forward to the structure plan announced in August last year which proposed a height limit of 40 metres, which is the hospital’s height.
They were:
OPTION 1:
●Max height 40m or 13 storeys
●Flat skyline with many smaller towers
●1080 new dwellings
●6500sq m of open space
●Poor solar access in public areas
●1700 extra jobs — 15,000sq m of retail and 11,400 sqm of commercial
OPTION 2
●A signature tower of 22 storeys plus 16 to 17-storey, 15-storey and multiple 12 to 13-storey units
●1080 new dwellings, better solar access
●10,000sq m open space
●1700 jobs, 15,000sq m of retail and 11,400 sqm of commercial
OPTION 3
●Max height 70m or 22 storeys
●12 to 13 storeys with five larger towers between 13 and 22 storeys
●1500 new dwellings and 10,000sq m open space
●Possible overshadowing in public areas
●Same job numbers as other options
At the meeting Cr Roslyn Harrison and Mayor Michael Regan moved to support option one, and re-exhibit amended plans with a view of putting rezoning documents to residents for feedback later this year.
“I have been a part of this process for the past six years and have been involved in extensive consultation with the Frenchs Forest,” said Cr Harrison.
“I think the thing that comes back resoundingly time and time again is we do not want height.
“Perhaps even what we have in hospital is too much for many people and they have gone as far as they can.”
She said the proposal for one “iconic tower” was on already elevated land, and “putting on an enormous building you could probably see it from space”.
“Even the best design competition can’t guarantee an iconic amazing building and if it doesn’t look amazing it is something we will have to live for 50 years and probably see it form Western Australia.”
She said it was unfair to put long-suffering residents through more consultation.
Cr Regan shared her sentiments, saying “the poor resident have had to live in hell”.
“We are all sympathetic and empathetic, we want to see this brought to a head.”
The council also resolved to ensure the highest quality design standards.
However, the final say belongs to the Planning Department, which took over the area as a priority precinct, meaning it pushes funds and infrastructure into the area to speed up plans.
The council will write to the department making its wishes known.
Councillors were split on whether or not to put the towers out on public exhibition, with councillors Penny Philpott and Ian White saying it would create more variety.
Cr Philpott labelled the plans, which have multiple towers all at the 13-storey height limit as looking like a “slum”.
“Frustration and anger levels are at fever pitch and all of this is made worse by the hospital roadworks.
“We have to go through this nightmare a little longer. I can only imagine the unnecessary grief and frustration this development is creating.
“But I don’t want another dozen boxes I have to look out on. We are going to be inundated with these buildings, so lets make the most of it.”
