Council committee shrinks CBD height limits, rejects Fragrance Group’s twin towers development

Buildings in Hobart’s CBD are set to face new height restrictions if council planning committee recommendations are approved next week.

The Hobart CBD could face a 45m limit on building heights. Picture: AERIAL VISION AUSTRALIA

BUILDINGS in Hobart’s CBD will be capped at 45 metres if council planning committee recommendations are approved next week.

It was standing room only at Monday night’s meeting as the five-person Hobart City Council planning committee also rejected the Fragrance Group development in North Hobart – much to the delight of the attendees.

The council-commissioned Leigh Woolley review divides Hobart into 10 different height zones, designed to preserve views of kunanyi/Mount Wellington and the waterfront.

Committee chairwoman Helen Burnet and Councillor Jeff Briscoe supported Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds’s amendments to lower heights in the CBD from the 60m recommended in the report to 45m.

Fragrance Group’s proposed twin tower development in Elizabeth St has been rejected by a Hobart City Council planning committee. Picture: SUPPLIED

Cr Reynolds also proposed lowering the maximum height limits in four of the other zones.

“The feedback I’ve had from people in Hobart is that the proposed 60m or 20 storeys is too high for Hobart and our CBD,” she said.

Aldermen Simon Behrakis and Tanya Denison did not support the motion.

Ald Behrakis called for the decision to be deferred to allow more research into what effect setting a height limit would have on Hobart’s economy and housing affordability.

Ald Behrakis’ motion was defeated 3-2.

WARNING HEIGHT LIMITS THREATEN HOBART’S GROWTH

Hobart Not Highrise president Brian Corr. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Hobart Not Highrise president Brian Corr welcomed the lower heights.

“It gives developers, architects, planning staff and residents certainty,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fragrance Group’s bid to build 12- and 13-storey towers in Elizabeth St near the corner of Warwick St hit a major snag with a 4-1 vote against the development.

Only Ald Behrakis voted in favour of the project.

“I think 11 of the 12 reasons given for refusal were put forward by the heritage officer and I raised the fact that the Tasmanian Heritage Council took a different view point,” he said.

“Many of the reasons were very subjective.”

But Mr Corr described the Elizabeth St proposal as a “monstrosity” that was recommended for refusal on height and heritage grounds

Revamped plans for a $60 million expansion of the heritage-listed Lenna of Hobart hotel in Battery Point were approved 3-2, with councillors Burnet and Reynolds voting against the development.

All matters will be voted on at a full council meeting next Monday.

HOTEL’S $60 MILLION EXPANSION BID ‘NOT RESPECTFUL’

The proposeed Lenna development in Battery Point, overlaid over the current site. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL