Majority of councillors support tower at Palm Beach despite wave of resident opposition

A decision has been made on a planned 14-level tower at Palm Beach, which had sparked opposition from almost 800 residents.

Fourteen level tower planned for Jefferson Lane at Palm Beach causing a community protest.

A planned 14-level tower at Palm Beach has been approved by council despite sparking opposition from almost 800 residents.

Council planning officers had recommended approval of the tower on an amalgamated three allotments covering a 1650sq m site in Jefferson Lane.

However, area councillor Daphne McDonald was pushing to have it knocked back.

The veteran Palm Beach councillor argued the development did not meet the planning criteria to be given a 50 per cent uplift in height.

“The proposal doesn’t reinforce local identity and sense of place. There are no submitters in support of this actual proposal,” Cr McDonald said.

She added “the community had spoken” with 784 individual objections.

Cr William Owen-Jones said he found it difficult to support Cr McDonald having not been given her substantial lengthy brief of reasons prior to the meeting.

Fourteen level tower planned for Jefferson Lane at Palm Beach causing a community protest.

Cr Glenn Tozer asked officers about recent planning court judgments on similar developments and was told planners had gone through each decision “with a fine tooth comb”.

A majority of councillors were concerned about not acknowledging legal advice, that a refusal could lead to a planning court appeal.

But Cr Vorster said residents had made their judgement that the development did not meet their idea of “local identity” – one of the criteria needed for giving a 50 per cent height uplift. The acceptable height limit was 17m not 43.9m, he added.

“I’ll back the locals every day of the week. They live and breathe the area. They are saying the local identity is medium to low rise,” he said.

Site of a 14-level tower proposed for Jefferson Lane at Palm Beach causing a community protest.

Cr Peter Young supporting Cr McDonald said the development was not slender and the building had a bulky appearance. Only Darren Taylor and Bob La Castra provided support on the motion for refusal.

The Palm Beach Elanora Community Group, which had members in the gallery, condemned the decision.

Their president Lancia Jordana, outside the meeting, said: “Our council has completely ignored the views of hundreds of local residents, to allow developers to build a massive tower on a single lane alley, that has no footpaths, shared by cars, pedestrians and cyclists.

“In 2019, council supported a reduction in building heights along Jefferson, so this is a kick in the guts for residents.

Street level look at where a 14-level tower is planned for Jefferson Lane at Palm Beach, prompting a community protest.

“This proposal clearly does not the meet the criteria for height uplift.

“Council has applied a very questionable interpretation of City Plan guidelines in order to approve it.”

The councillor vote at an earlier planning committee meeting was 6-2 in favour.

Lancia Jordana who is president of the Palm Beach Elanora Community Group Inc.

Planning committee chairman Mark Hammel at that meeting praised the high quality of submissions from residents, which he said had led to a thorough examination by planning officers.

But he indicated he would support the officers’ recommendation, noting the city should be encouraging amalgamation of development sites which in this case increased dwelling numbers from eight to 38 helping to meet population growth targets.