Lane Cove West development: developer bypasses council rejection of 316 home high-rise tower plan
Plans for a massive 316-home development on Sydney’s lower north shore were rejected by council, but that hasn’t stopped the developer from pursuing the proposal with the government.
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A Lane Cove developer is set to override a Sydney council’s decision and seek the NSW Planning Department’s approval of plans for a massive residential and hotel precinct.
The multimillion-dollar planning proposal at 166 Epping Rd, Lane Cove West, was rejected by Lane Cove Council before it was submitted to NSW Planning by developer Epic Doncaster on December 19 last year.
Plans submitted to the government as part of the rezoning review earmark the development of two mixed-use towers ranging from 14 to 21-storeys, featuring 316 apartments.
A planner from Epic Doncaster said the proposal “provides for the maintenance and expansion of the existing commercial floor space on the site, ensuring the employment generating capacity of the land is retained”.
“The development will contribute significantly to the local economy both during construction and from the influx of new residents and workers,” the planner said.
However, Lane Cove councillors voted down the planning proposal, arguing it did not preserve and manage industrial and urban services land.
“The proposal is not consistent with the community priorities and actions for housing supply and retention of commercial land,” a council planner said.
“The site is not identified as a strategic precinct, nor is it considered an appropriate area for housing.
“The Lane Cove West employment lands are specifically identified in the Draft Lane Cove Local Strategic Planing Statement to be protected and managed for industrial and commercial land uses.”
But in its submission to NSW Planning, the developer argued the development would not result in any loss of industrial land.
The developer said current businesses, SC Johnson and Ingredion had ceased manufacturing and were up for sale.
“As these sites have a long history of manufacturing it is likely that remediation costs for any redevelopment would be significant and it is highly unlikely that there will be any significant redevelopment without a change in zoning,” the applicant’s planner said.