Boarding House in Frenchs Forest doesn’t fit in says council, who asked for refusal

PLANS for a $1.4 million boarding house are expected to be turned down because it does not fit in with the neighbourhood.

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PLANS for a $1.4 million boarding house are expected to be turned down because it does not fit in with the neighbourhood.

Details of the 23-room, two-storey building at 31 Forest Way in Frenchs Forest, which could house up to 46 people in studio-style rooms, were discussed by Warringah Council’s independent planning panel.

But council bosses have recommended it be turned down.

Experts said it was against guidelines on “bulk, scale and appearance” and failed to meet other rules for new boarding houses, which aim to offer affordable housing.

They also said the communal room was too small.

However, a representative of applicant Victor Lake and Jervis Brooks Investments said it did fit in with the area, was the same height as a house and had “residential scale”.

A representative of applicants said it did fit in with the area, was the same height as a house and had “residential scale”. Pictures from the application

The spokesman told the panel: “There’s no sound reason for refusing it.”

He said the communal room was big enough and efforts had been made to make the building a home for those who moved in.

Four locals have objected to the plan for the development, next door to Wareham Reserve. They said they had traffic worries, something else the developers dispute. They said most of its residents would not have cars.

As reported in the Manly Daily, a local town planner, Richard McClenahan, called it “overdevelopment”.

A decision will be revealed next week.