Ralston Ave, Belrose: Retirement complex gets go ahead from court
After plans were lodged more than three years ago, a court has ruled a$5.2m retirement complex can now be built on the northern beaches. See where.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A court has given permission for two freestanding houses on the northern beaches to be bulldozed and replaced with an over-55s retirement complex with 16 units.
Northern Beaches Council knocked back the $5.2m application to redevelop the properties on Ralston Ave, Belrose, two years ago over stormwater and flooding concerns.
There was also an issue about a minor height noncompliance of the two-storey building containing one, two and three-beroom apartments.
Several residents also sent objections to the council over the seniors living development application, with some worried about stormwater flooding onto their properties from the site. The Land and Environment Court was told the site is in a “flood prone area”.
Others wrote that their privacy would be affected by balconies in the units with direct views into neighbouring yards.
There were also concerns about noise coming from barbecue areas in the complex and a possible drop in property values because of living next to a “high density” unit development.
In its assessment report the council noted that the site was “considered unsuitable for the proposed development”.
“The application has not demonstrated that it can achieve the relevant requirements in relation to flooding on site,” the report stated.
The applicants told the council, in a flood report prepared by consultants, that open drains/swales, as well as a series of pits and pipes would be provided to ease flooding and stormwater concerns during “storm events”.
“In our opinion, the proposed development along with the proposed flood mitigation
measures, will not contribute to any significant adverse impact on any neighbouring
properties,” the consultants wrote.
The couple who own the houses and want to develop the seniors’ units, appealed the decision in the Land and Environment Court. The original development application was lodged in March 2020.
Commissioner Sarah Bish approved an amended application after a conciliation conference between the council and property owners on May 31.
In her decision Ms Bish wrote that based on the amended application and the agreed conditions of consent “the parties reached an agreement . . that would be acceptable to the parties”.
“The parties agree that the contentions of council have been considered and are resolved. The issues raised by the objectors have also been considered.”
Ms Bish found that the amended development application “sufficiently addresses all the relevant objectives, aims, standards and requirements of the WLEP (Warringah Local Environmental Plan)” when it comae to managing stormwater and flooding.
She also found the height of the building would not “perceptibly change the presentation of the proposed building to the streetscape or result in adverse bulk and scale impacts to adjoining developments”.
The property owners have been contacted for comment.
Boarding house bid may see up to 117 lodgers in semirural area
Plans have emerged for two more unit blocks to join a boarding house compound in a semirural part of the northern beaches – bringing the potential number of lodgers to 117.
‘He’s back’: Oz surfing great renews link with northern beaches
One of the most influential Australian surfing industry pioneers has re-established his historic links with the northern beaches more than 50 years after he left.