Planning Panel considering adding more units to approved northern beaches seniors’ block
A planning panel is examining a developer’s bid to add more units to an already approved six-storey seniors’ living development at Frenchs Forest.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A developer wants to add more units to a controversial $34 million seniors’ living block on the northern beaches that has already been approved by planning authorities.
Platino Properties was given the green light last year to redevelop a business park at Frenchs Forest into a 49-unit facility.
But now it wants permission from the NSW Government’s independent Sydney North Planning Panel to add another seven units to the six-storey building in Skyline Pl.
The developer originally wanted to build a nine-storey complex with 78 units and two storeys of commercial and office space, but that was knocked back by the panel in December 2018.
Northern Beaches Council opposed the project because it believed it was not in keeping with the desired future character of the site.
Neighbouring residents also complained that it was too big and would cause traffic problems.
In June last year the NSW Government’s independent planning panel agreed to an amended application which included the height being reduced from nine storeys to six, additional landscaped areas and the number of seniors living units dropping from 78 to 49.
The council still opposes the redevelopment.
In documents to the panel Platino Properties said that as well as providing much needed accommodation for seniors, the development “will not result in any adverse impacts on neighbouring properties”.
“(It) does not result in any changes to the height, scale or footprint of the approved
development” and would fit well into the “evolving land use and character of the Frenchs
Forest Health and Education Precinct”.
“The proposed modifications reflect (Platino’s) discussions with potential operators of
the seniors living development.”
But neighbour Ken Arnold told the planning panel that the development would lead to a massive loss of on-street parking in side streets off Frenchs Forest Rd. (The development is providing 124 carparking spaces).
“The southern side of Frenchs Forest Rd East is business park,” Mr Arnold said. “Residential development should be restricted to the northern side of the road to be in keeping with the current, balanced character of the locality.”
Another neighbour, Katie Adams, said the redevelopment of the land was “currently inappropriate”.
“We are still awaiting a rezoning plan for the west of Wakehurst Parkway. Surely any development should be made after, or in conjunction with, the precinct plan to enable intelligent and proper planning of the area surrounding the hospital.”
The planning panel met on May 27 to consider the modifications, but deferred making a decision until the developer provided more information about issues including design and use of communal facilities; effective separation of commercial and residential activities and; access to the cafe and lift lobbies.
It asked that the amended plans and information be provided to the council by June 30.