Duplex shelving highlights council’s planning law changes

THE council’s changes to duplex planning laws appear to have had the desired effect, with a proposed development withdrawn by its applicant.

A proposed duplex in Glenvale has been withdrawn following issues raised by the council.

THE Toowoomba Regional Council's changes to duplex planning laws appear to have had the desired effect, with a proposed development withdrawn by its applicant.

Homecorp Constructions withdrew its proposal for a dual occupancy dwelling on McInnes Cr in Glenvale, after submitting it back in April.

The building was supposed to feature two units of three bedrooms each on a 742 sqm block.

While the exact reason is not known, the shelving came soon after the council submitted an information request highlighting a number of outstanding issues.

Chief among senior planner Richard Green's concerns was the fact there were already a large number of duplexes approved on McInnes Cr.

This comes several years after the council amended its planning scheme to prevent "clustering" of dual occupancy buildings in lower-density residential areas.

"A recent site visit conducted by a council officer indicates that four out of the eight lots on the western side of McInnes Cr, are improved by dual occupancies (existing or under construction)," Mr Green wrote in the information request.

"This will mean six out of 11 lots with frontage to this north/south leg of McInnes Cr will be occupied by dual occupancies.

"It is considered that dual occupancy development has become the dominant form of housing within McInnes Cr.

"The proposal to establish a new dual occupancy is therefore inconsistent with the purpose of the Low-Density Residential Zone Code and the purpose of the Medium Density Residential Code."

Mr Green also had issues with the garages, access to sunlight, orientation of the building and earthworks.

Former TRC planning and development chair Cr Chris Tait said duplex clustering had become a big issue in certain parts of the region.

"We don't want to see duplex developments all across the street," he told The Chronicle back in 2018.

"We want some inter-splicing.

"This relates to greenfield developments and this will prevent whole streets of duplexes - we don't want to see that."

The amendment was ratified by the council last year.