Palm Beach tower approved by council despite density concerns

A controversial tower proposed for Palm Beach has been approved after some very specific advice was given to councillors.

A view of the planned high rise building at 22nd Ave, Palm Beach.

COUNCIL has approved a controversial high rise development at Palm Beach which has three times the density allowed for under the City Plan.

Area councillor Daphne McDonald, at this afternoon’s full council meeting, put forward a lengthy motion which included council refusing the application for the nine-storey building, which is slated for a 745 sqm block on 22nd Ave.

Councillors admitted the detailed argument had not been circulated before the meeting. Cr McDonald only gained support from colleagues Peter Young, Glenn Tozer and Dawn Crichlow.

The building would be three times the density allowed under the City Plan.

Councillor William Owen-Jones had asked about potential changes that could be introduced to reduce the density, and the chances council would have in defending them in the planning and environment court.

Council director of economy, planning and environment Aleisha Swain admitted “the options would be very slim”.

“I think it has been a thorough assessment (by officers). I don’t think we would have a good prospect (of winning) in my opinion,” she said

Legal advice to council was that there were no reasonable grounds for refusing the application.

Proposed high rise building at 22nd Ave Palm Beach.

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A key issue to emerge in the debate was the development was under the height limit of 29m.

The water, sewage and road infrastructure in the area could accommodate the increased density, so approval should be given on performance outcomes, council officers argued.

Councillor Glenn Tozer congratulated Cr McDonald on her well prepared argument.

“I think there’s something that needs to give here. We need to fix it in our City Plan. We can’t keep having this conversation. This needs to be fixed,” he said.

Only Cr McDonald, Cr Peter Young and Cr Dawn Crichlow voted against the application. Deputy Mayor Donna Gates was not in the room to vote, and Robina’s Hermann Vorster was absent.

The site of the proposed high rise building at 22nd Ave, Palm Beach.

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Ahead of the meeting, Palm Beach resident John Hicks had written to all councillors after reading reports in the Bulletin about the site and a high rise building wave on the southern Gold Coast.

“Once again it seems we have a majority of councillors determined to approve a development application that is way outside the intent of the City Plan,” Mr Hicks told councillors.

Mr Hicks provided a table of data which showed the building application did not confirm with the “clear written intent and acceptable outcomes contained in the City Plan”.

“It is the role of all elected councillors to uphold the intent of the City Plan and not grant excessive relaxations such as those proposed,” he wrote.

“These inappropriate approvals result in huge financial benefits to the developer.

“None of the financial benefits from these development rights accrue to the community, which is left with the lifestyle amenity burden of an unattractive, bulky, over-dense development on a small suburban block.”

Mr Hicks said the lack of landscaping at street level and separation to adjacent buildings would be narrow, compromising views and air flow.

“It moves the Gold Coast further down the pathway to ‘Gotham City by-the-sea’.”

Mr Hicks, who grew up on the Gold Coast and returned to the tourist strip four years ago, told the Bulletin he was not against progress and supported quality urban renewal.

“We need high quality urban renewal. I’m not anti-development. We have to have growth. But it has to be with a plan that the community approves, and that’s the City Plan.”