The Town of Cottesloe is still not sold on Gary Dempsey Developments’ $22 million beachfront apartment plan, recommending that the proposal be refused for a second time.
The Town of Cottesloe is still not sold on Gary Dempsey Developments’ $22 million beachfront apartment plan, recommending that the proposal be refused by the State Development Assessment Unit (SDAU) for the second time.
Late last year, the Fremantle-based building company lodged a development application for a nine-storey mixed-use development on Marine Parade featuring 14 apartments, a commercial tenancy and basement parking with the SDAU, a body established to expedite developments likely to assist with the state’s economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19.
The Town of Cottesloe council objected to the proposal in February on the basis that it exceeded the height permitted by the local planning scheme by four storeys and would likely create significant overshadowing.
Earlier this month, the company revised the plans, reducing the height of the development to eight storeys and removing the rooftop terrace before sending the proposal back to the local government.
But during an agenda briefing this week, the local government’s officers argued that the amendments did not adequately address the reasons for the original refusal and recommended that it be refused again.
A decision is expected to be made by the Town of Cottesloe council when it meets next Tuesday.
Regardless of the outcome, the proposal could still receive the green light from the SDAU when it reviews the plans next month.
While the state planning body must have due regard for the local government’s planning framework, it has the authority to vary provisions and grant approval.
Gary Dempsey told Business News the company was not surprised by the objections raised by the council to the revised design.
“There is a strong demand for increased housing diversity, well managed development and investment in ageing infrastructure and facilities across Cottesloe and this has been the case for many years, however, we have a council that is almost uniformly opposed to any change and that has been the case for many years,” he said.
“Cottesloe, along with many other Western Suburbs councils, has long been staunchly anti-development and dominated by those who sit firmly in that anti-development camp and recent headlines in local newspapers certainly reflect that position.
“The current government is trying to work with these councils to manage infill developments and reach the targets they have set, so far it would seem without much success.
“As we have said in the past, there are many locals and others who support well managed and executed development and progress in Cottesloe and who are not anti development at all costs. However, more often than not their voices are not those that are being heard.
“Interestingly, almost 100 per cent of our current database for our planned Marine Parade development currently live in Cottesloe and can not find any suitable downsizing options in the area."
Mr Dempsey said the company was working with the Department of Lands, Planning and Heritage on the second stage of its development application process and respected that process and its determination.
