First look at where development will be cut back at Palm Beach

Height levels have been halved and permitted density has been radically scaled back at Palm Beach in a major win for protesters. SEE THE NEW ZONE, HEIGHT AND DENSITY MAP

Development at Palm Beach. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

PALM Beach will have a new development map which reduces beachfront high rise buildings to four levels at its most expensive and sought after street address.

Mayor Tom Tate and planning committee chairman Cameron Caldwell emerged from a special full council meeting today confident about a solution which will ease the fiery protests from residents in the development hot spot.

A new City Plan map showing lower density development for Palm Beach.

Councillor Caldwell, after meeting with planning officers, circulated a proposed zone, height and density map which covers nine blocks of beachfront.

Under the changes, the eastern side of Jefferson Lane will change from medium density to low-medium density, almost halving the existing height limits.

The new 16m height limit will allow for buildings of only four levels with developers no longer able to get a 50 per cent uplift in their designs. The residential density will be one bedroom per 50sqm.

On the western side of Jefferson Lane, the height again will be halved, to 17m or five levels, but developers can get a 50 per cent increase.

Cr Caldwell wrote to area councillor Daphne McDonald, who was absent when the changes received the unanimous backing of councillors at the meeting.

“For some time I have been considering a potential solution for the issue of the limited capacity of Jefferson Lane and yesterday I asked council officers to prepare what I believe our best option at this time to help address this issue,” he wrote.

Palm Beach community meeting about City Plan. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: $5 PER MONTH FOR THE FIRST 3 MONTHS

Developers could make a superseded application which could be lodged up to 12 months after an amendment started.

“This will effectively give property owners up to 18 months from commencement of the amendment to lodge a superseded application to utilise their existing development entitlements,” he said.

Outside the meeting, Cr Caldwell encouraged residents to back the changes to reduce further delays enabling developers to use a window to make applications under the existing Plan.

“We have seen there are some development pressures in that area, and this is the first significant change in planning since the mid-80s in Palm Beach,” he said.

“The areas in and around Jefferson Lane have come under increasing pressure, because that particularly laneway has only limited capacity.

Gold Coast City Council planning chair Cameron Caldwell — I have walked Jefferson Lane.

MORE NEWS

Why Palm Beach development may be ugliest building on the Coast

Call to ‘ban all development’ in Coast suburb

Work begins on Burleigh light rail extension

“I have personally walked Jefferson Lane, I’ve sat in the cafe down there, and I’ve had a very close look at this myself.

“I’ve worked with the council officers to put together what I believe to be a comprehensive and very good package to deal with a reduced development outcome on that beachfront area.”

Mayor Tom Tate outside the meeting was upbeat when asked if he would be embraced or face a protest at Palm Beach.

“I never feel alienated when I go to Palm Beach,” he replied.

“I’ve got a lot of friends down there, and I can say that as far as a protector of the Palm Beach — there is no-one in the history of the Gold Coast has built the largest artificial reef that in time of surging storms protects the foreshore of Palm Beach.”

Asked if he had spoken to Cr McDonald, he replied: “I think she is in New York. I’m not going to use the council phone. If she was here I’d absolutely talk but dialling internationally sorry it’s not value for money, maybe I can Skype.”

Community Alliance leader John Hicks — changes are very welcome. Picture Glenn Hampson.

Community Alliance leader John Hicks welcomed the recommendations but urged council to undertake more reforms away from targeted growth areas.

“Good outcome for those areas of Palm Beach. Very sensible and welcome. We would like many things to go a lot further than what they’ve gone,” Mr Hicks said.