Merrylands: Extra units at Dressler Court rejected, Hilltop Rd childcare centre on hold
A decision has been made on whether another four storeys to a unit complex will be approved, and what the future holds for a childcare centre proposal.
Parramatta
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A developer’s request to add four storeys to a sprawling under-construction apartment complex at Dressler Court has hit a hurdle after a panel rejected plans.
Landmark Group Australia’s development application requested another 32 units for the approved 12-storey block at 20-22 Dressler Court.
The Cumberland Local Planning Panel this week refused the plans which would have taken the number of units to 210, citing inadequate environmental planning grounds and height breaches for the development’s expansion.
Much of the work on the four-building complex has been completed and will comprise 68 one-bedroom flats, 130 with two bedrooms and 12 with three bedroom. that would include a rooftop communal open space on the 6765sq m site.
The public submitted six objections to the council, citing excessive height, overshadowing, loss of privacy, traffic congestion and a shortfall of three-bedroom units to cater for Cumberland’s demographics, where 39.6 per cent of residents live in households of four or more.
The planning proposal will be reassessed and will ultimately be determined by the State Government.
CHILDCARE CENTRE
Plans to convert at heritage-listed house at 11 Hilltop Rd Merrylands into a childcare centre for 56 children have been deferred so the history of the site can be further explored and to enable a traffic study to be completed.
Cumberland Local Planning Panel assessed the application, which attracted 10 submissions, this week and put it on hold so an independent heritage report could be undertaken for the council.
The panel also recommended the applicant, listed as J.Khouri, to undertake a traffic study exploring speed despite planner Brad Delapierre telling the panel the traffic had almost been “looked at to death’’ and some suggestions were “onerous”.
“In our mind it’s appropriate for the site to have a childcare centre,’’ he said.
“Based on the reports we’ve done it’s not necessary to start putting speed humps up and down the street to do it.’’
Panel chairwoman Julie Walsh also questioned heritage expert James Phillips about plans to place a carpark at the front of the site, which would require one of two palm trees to be transplanted.
“I just thought the whole idea of a carpark in front of a heritage item was verboten,’’ she said.
“ … You can put landscaping around it but is it’s still a carpark with 20 cars.’’
However, Mr Phillips said there would be a straight view from the street to the federation bungalow, Burda.
“Cars can come and go in the future,’’ he said.
“I don’t see them as such a disaster to settings. There’s lots of buildings that right on the street front that have cars parked in front of them.
“I know it’s a Mosman and Leichhardt thing that they are verboten. They’re a little less verboten here.’’
The applicant had to modify several plans to meet concerns over its original proposal for a 70-place childcare centre with 22 parking spaces.
The plans were first lodged in December and public feedback mainly objected to the development over more traffic congestion on Hilltop Rd.
The applicant was given 30 days from Wednesday to provide the information requested by the panel.
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