Mont Albert townhouse proposal rejected at VCAT

A developer’s push to build 24 two and three storey townhouses on six lots of land in Mont Albert North has been shut down at VCAT.

A development in Francesca Street, Mont Albert North has been knocked back at VCAT. Several house near the corner of Relowe crescent have over run gardens. Picture Stuart Milligan

A developer’s push to build 24 two and three storey French Provincial-style townhouses on six lots of land in Mont Albert North has been shut down at VCAT after a long battle.

Whitehorse Council put at least $60,000 into the fight against Ausgood Development’s proposal for 34-42 Francesca St and 61 Relowe Crescent, after it rejected the application back in August 2017.

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Residents submitted 68 objections to the original plan to build 25 townhouses within seven modules on the six lots, which would have removed the majority of the area’s vegetation in the process.

A woman living opposite the site, who did not want to be named, said neighbours were appalled by the “nightmare” proposal, which completely conflicted with the suburb.

A development in Francesca Street, Mont Albert North has been knocked back at VCAT. Several house near the corner of Relowe crescent have over run gardens. Picture Stuart Milligan

When Ausgood Development pursued its application at VCAT, it reduced the number of houses by one, rearranged the layout and added five visitor parking spaces.

But the changes did not appease the council or residents, who remained concerned about the high density complex, internal and external design of the houses, drainage implications and removal of trees.

The six residents who spoke to the tribunal said the plans for the dozens of three and four bedroom townhouses with pergolas conflicted with the character of the area, and would be visually bulky.

The tribunal agreed with the objectors, stating, “whilst townhouses are specifically encouraged by the planning scheme, the layout and scale of the proposed buildings is different to the existing character”.

It also cited the removal of trees and drainage issues as reasons for rejecting the application.

Speaking at last month’s council meeting, Cr Blair Barker said the council had run a “very successful case” against one of the worst applications it had seen.

“Tens of thousands of dollars of ratepayers money was spent defeating that application, because it was one of the most egregious applications,” he said.

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Council general manager city development Jeff Green said the council did not know the exact cost of the appeal, but estimated it was at least $60,000, due to a number of complications at the hearings.

Hasan from Mont Albert North wrote to Whitehorse Leader thanking Whitehorse Council and “the other 67 local residents for their support”.