21 Hogben Street: Kogarah retail, apartment building proposal refused

A developer for a 12-storey building in Kogarah’s town centre will have to go back to the drawing board for the third time if he wants the project to get the green light. Find out why approval was refused. 

A proposed 12-storey residential high-rise in Kogarah has been knocked back yet again, with a planning panel deeming it “out of character” with the area.

The Georges River Local Planning Panel last week refused to approve a $14 million mixed-use building located at 21 Hogben Street, which was in line with the council’s recommendation.

Developer Michael Muir sought consent to demolish the existing structures on the site and construct a 12-storey development with commercial use at the ground floor and 50 residential apartments above.

The proposal, located in Kogarah Town Centre, included 10 studio; 29 two-bedroom, 11 three-bedroom units, two retail tenancies and parking for 73 cars, along with landscaping.

The plans also included five levels of basement and roof top communal open space.

The Georges River Local Planning Panel last week refused to approve a $14 million mixed-use building located at 21 Hogben Street. The plan was for a 12-storey development with commercial use at the ground floor and 50 residential apartments above. Picture: 3D montage of proposal viewed from street level, Equnox Designs

Panel members determined the proposal was “unsatisfactory” because it provided “poor amenity”, the building was taller than planning regulations allowed and would have “adverse impacts upon the streetscape, future occupants and adjoining properties”.

“The proposed development in its current form is not suitable for the site,” the panel said.

“The proposed built form of the development will be out of character with existing and recently approved developments and does not reflect the desired future character for development in the precinct.

“The proposed development in its current form … will establish an undesirable precedent in the area which will not be in the public interest.”

The panel previously refused the development in September last year due to issues relating to bulk, scale, facade, amenity and more.

Street view indicating existing built form along Montgomery Street, Kogarah which comprises of a mixture of commercial and shop top housing Source: Google Maps, 2021

The developer re-lodged plans late last year with the council meeting with him to further discuss the concerns.

At the panel meeting on Wednesday, Mr Muir asked the panel to grant conditional approval for the development application, allowing for “minor amendments to be made”.

Development planner for the applicant Mark Raymundo noted the plans had been worked on since the last meeting with the council to address the concerns including waste collection, height of the building and setback on one boundary.

“We believe the concerns raised within the council report are minor,” Mr Raymundo said.

“The applicant is somewhat amenable in trying to address in good faith some of the council’s concerns and we would like that opportunity for a deferral of the application or appropriate conditions of consent be imposed.”

However, the panel noted the cumulative effects of any amendments would need further consideration, adding the applicant could lodge an appeal which would allow the panel more time to reconsider the application.