A DEVELOPER will need to go back to the drawing board if they want to construct multiple units on a vacant site in Griffin Street.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Nemco Design, on behalf of property owner Boulangerie Menai PTY LTD, had lodged a development application with Bathurst Regional Council for nine two-storey residential units at 20 Griffin Street.
Seven of the units would be two-bedroom, while the remaining two would have three. All units would have a single carport attached.
The subject site has maximum density of 18.09 persons, but the density proposed in the DA is 22 persons.
The applicant submitted a request to vary the density of the development, which council's planning staff were prepared to support and included this in the recommendation put to Wednesday's council meeting.
The applicant provided several reasons to justify the variation.
This included how big the site is, that there are two access points to the site, and that neighbouring properties wouldn't be burdened by the higher density.
However, when it came time for councillors to determine the fate of the DA, they decided they weren't satisfied with the proposed density, or the overshadowing issues the units could create.
Concerns about overshadowing were raised in the two public submissions received.
ALSO MAKING NEWS: Taco Bell decision could change after councillors' latest move
Councillors resolved to not support the variation to the residential density in the Bathurst Regional Development Control Plan (DCP) and to request the applicant submit amended plans that addresses the issues.
The matter will be further considered by council upon receipt of updated plans.
It was deputy mayor Ian North who put forward the motion to defer a decision on the proposal.
"I think we've got to be understanding of the applicant ... I think we're going to see more of these in the future, but I think we've got set guidelines in place," he said.
"But I think they've got to have a chance to be able to, like any applicant, to maybe potentially reconfigure it."
According to the report from Neil Southorn, council's director of Environmental, Planning and Building Services, the density matter could be resolved by deleting one of the three-bedroom units.
"Which would mean the development is closer to, but still marginally in exceedance of the maximum density," he said.
