By Mikayla van Loon
A multi-dwelling development has been approved for Mooroolbark after a Yarra Ranges Council decision to refuse it was overturned at VCAT.
Senior member Rachel Naylor approved the permit with a number of modifications to the design and will see the four double storey dwellings be erected at 17 Neville Street, Mooroolbark.
The council initially refused the permit application based on the visual bulk of the development, limited landscaping opportunities and cantilevered elements.
“At the end of the hearing, I advised the parties orally that I agreed with the council that four dwellings on this site in general terms is acceptable, however aspects of the design require modification,” member Naylor said.
Terra Rossa Developments was instructed to remove the fenced-in section for unit 1 to match the streetscape, review the building heights for visual bulk, overlooking and overshadowing reasons, as well as flooding potential and amend landscaping designs.
The council and member Naylor referred to the design of the units at 25 Neville Street as an appropriate use of a similar shaped and sized block of land.
With the land positioned in a general residential zone, within a kilometre of a railway station, shops and a supermarket, the Design and Development Overlay Schedule 8 approves developments of this size to occur in an attempt to increase residential density.
Submitting revised plans for circulation to the council and VCAT, both parties were satisfied with the changes, addressing the concerns of the original application.
“The proposed front fence has now been removed as it provides a design response that is more in accordance with the preferred neighbourhood character and is more consistent with the intent under the DDO8,” the applicant stated.
“The Council also notes the landscaping now includes four trees, shrubs and lower planting which is an appropriate response to the streetscape. I agree. This change is acceptable,” member Naylor said.
Of the four dwellings, the front and rear will both be a three bedroom, double car garage structure, while units 2 and 3 will be two bedrooms with a single car garage, all proposed in a reversed living style, with the main living areas on the first floor not ground.
“I have decided to set aside the Council’s decision and order that a permit be issued subject to conditions,” member Naylor concluded.
