By Bonny Burrows
A proposal for seven double-storey townhouses in a Berwick court has been rejected for being ‘inappropriate’ for its mooted location.
The City of Casey last week declined a planning application for the construction of seven three and four-bedroom double storey homes on two allotments at the top of Hazeldene Court.
The application had received 18 objections by affected residents and a petition signed by 44 neighbours against the proposal was submitted to council.
Residents argued the development was out of character for a court location, would decrease property prices and would pose accessibility issues for emergency vehicles and waste collection services.
Hazeldene Court resident spokesperson Geoff Williamson said locals didn’t disagree with the need for development, but it needed to be suited to its surrounds.
The court consists of entirely one-storey homes, excluding one double-storey construction “got through the cracks”, so the proposal was inappropriate, residents argued.
And council agreed, rejecting the application on 14 March on the grounds it failed to satisfy planning policy framework, did not “achieve a level of appropriateness” when considered against zoning guidelines, and didn’t respect preferred neighbourhood character.
“The design is not site responsive and does not produce an acceptable design outcome and is therefore contrary to the orderly and proper planning of the area,” council said.
Mr Williamson thanked council for putting its residents’ best interests first.
“The planning (department) recommended it, but councillors said no, which is more credit to Tim Jackson and other councillors who were prepared to stand up against it,” he said.
The decision could still be overturned by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
