Council refuses to rezone Old South Head Rd site in Vaucluse for Parker Logan unit development
ONE of Sydney’s most expensive suburbs is at the centre of a long council battle after a developer pitched to erect two “high density” buildings, which some residents argue it obstructs their water views.
Wentworth Courier
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COUNCILS may have been stripped of their power to determine most development applications but that didn’t stop Woollahra from finding a way to veto a large scale project in Vaucluse.
Parker Logan Property, a developer, has been trying to develop 42-58 Old South Head Rd for several years.
As a first step toward plans to build a 60 unit development the firm needed council to rezone the land from low to medium density residential.
At a council meeting on Monday night the public gallery was filled with neighbours, including those living on Captain Pipers Rd located behind the site, who objected to the rezoning bid.
While some residents’ arguments focused on how the development would obstruct existing water views — others were more concerned with whether the area could cope with higher density.
“The local residents are not against development or improvements to our area but this is not sustainable development,” Old South Head Rd resident Jarren Pinchuck wrote in late correspondence.
“The local sewerage system is old and not connected to the Bondi outfall.
“The rezoning will create unacceptable traffic conditions on Old South Head Rd all the way down to Rose Bay where over development is already occurring.
“Public transport availability had been vastly overstated by the developer. The only local public high school is already at capacity.”
In a written submission on behalf of Parker Logan, lawyer Anthony Boskovitz, said: “In respect of density it should be noted that 42-44 is already approved for 29 boarding house studios (pictured) whilst 52-56 is already approved for six dwellings.”
That “boarding house” design by Parker Logan, while approved last year, has not been built. The developer, which owns numerous parcels of land on the block, has since revised the design.
Council’s lone voice supporting the zoning change, Cr Toni Zeltzer, said the developer had agreed to reduce the height of the structure from 10.5m to 9.5m.
She emphasised that council had previously identified the land as an “opportunity site” to provide sorely needed housing for the area, adding that working with one developer would likely guarantee a better outcome for neighbours than if the sites were individually built upon.
Her fellow Liberal councillor Mary-Lou Jarvis was having none of it.
“I have been inundated by correspondence from residents — more than on any other application or development so far this year,” Cr Jarvis said.
“This is our only opportunity to decide what (is built) … on that site before it is referred to the independent planning panel.”
Councillors voted against changing the zoning at the meeting by an overwhelming majority, receiving thanks from the gallery.