Council staff strongly object to OBH plan

A $220 million plan to revamp Cottesloe's Ocean Beach Hotel will be considered by council next week, with council staff recommending a strong objection to the proposal.

Owner Stan Quinlivan is proposing to redevelop the Marine Parade building to include 204 apartments, a 121-room hotel and 11 food, beverage and commercial tenancies across three main buildings with a maximum height of 12 storeys.

The Quinlivan family teamed up with David Hillam, through Edge Visionary Living and Hillam Architects, and lodged the application through the government's State Development Assessment Unit pathway to be assessed by the WA Planning Commission.

A public feedback period for the OBH proposal was initially planned to end by April 11 but has since been extended to April 26 following a request from the Town of Cottesloe.

The deadline for the council's response to the SDAU has also been extended to allow the matter to be considered at a meeting next week.

A report from the town's statutory planning coordinator includes a recommendation for the council to advise the SDAU and WAPC that it “strongly objects” to the proposal due to inconsistencies with the local planning strategy and building height controls.

“It does not adequately take account the scale and built form of surrounding residential development, mostly two to three storeys to the south and east,” the report said.

“It will not retain adequate visual permeability of the foreshore and ocean from nearby areas, including from the Cottesloe Civic Centre gardens.”

However, the coordinator’s recommendation included an alternative for the matter to be deferred if the WAPC does not refuse the application.

“In this regard, the town would welcome the opportunity to work with the WAPC in developing a suitable timetable for this to be completed as part of its local planning strategy,” the recommendation said.

“In the event the WAPC does not agree to either … (that) a condition be included requiring a significant monetary contribution to be made to the town for infrastructure items to support the orderly development of the area and cater to the additional demand from the proposed increased population.

“This will be used to facilitate the development of the adopted Foreshore Masterplan on the western side of the OBH site, modify the Eric Street and Marine Parade interface, and instigate a principal shared path along the northern side of the site.”

The council will consider the matter on Tuesday night.