Geelong Planning Committee ignores officers’ recommendations on pair of proposals

Councillors sitting on Geelong’s Planning Committee have disregarded city officers’ recommendations on a ‘skinny’ house planned for Newtown and a proposal to convert a $750,000 workshop into a modern home.

Councillors sitting on Geelong’s Planning Committee have disregarded city officers’ recommendations on a pair of proposed developments.

The committee met late last week to decide on recommendations to reject a permit to convert a small CBD workshop into a double storey home, and to approve a permit for a Newtown homeowner to shave off a 6.8m-wide slice of their property to build a unique second home.

But, the committee went against the city officers’ recommendations on both planning applications.

The $750,000 proposal to transform a Star St, Geelong workshop into a modern home was recommended to be rejected due to the need for a nine-point turn to park a car in its garage.

“The proposal requires approximately nine turning movements to access and align a car within the garage,” a city report noted.

The Star St plans have been approved

“It is considered that the access will create unacceptable outcomes due to the required turning movements and creates a safety concern as there are no sight lines for vehicles exiting the site.”

But the Planning Committee of eight councillors instead supported the application, with chair Kylie Grzybek saying it helped to create more living opportunities within central Geelong.

“The applicant has provided a clever and creative solution for living in a high density area,” Cr Grzybek said. “It is a fit for purpose application and we should support such opportunities.”

The committee also rejected a proposal to partially demolish a Stephen St, Newtown garage to make way for a 6.8m-wide two-storey house – which would include three bedrooms, a two-car garage at the front of the property and 6sq m pool separating the garage and house.

The Stephen St skinny house plans were rejected by council

The decision went against city officers’ advice to approve the planning application, deemed “acceptable” after eight objections were received during a public notice period earlier this year.

One objection complained the development would be an “eye sore” for the street, and that the $250,000 price tag “does not earmark it as a quality development”.

But, the planning committee again went against the recommendation, rejecting the proposal on the grounds it did not respect the existing and preferred neighbourhood character, required the removal of existing trees and would have a detrimental effect on the amenity of the area “given the modest lot size”.

“There were too many mitigating factors including neighbourhood character and heritage issues, overshadowing and overlooking,” Cr Grzybek said.

Originally published as Geelong Planning Committee ignores officers’ recommendations on pair of proposals