Draft scheme decision risky

Tuesday, 30 May, 2000 - 22:00
PERTH City Council’s draft City Planning Scheme 2 has again been used to refuse a development in Crawley.

However, because CPS2 is not yet law, councillors fear the $6 million, eleven-storey development could still be approved by Planning Minister Graham Kierath if the matter is appealed.

Council staff had recommended that the ten apartment development proposed for 6 to 8 Mounts Bay Road, Crawley be approved.

While the proposal contravenes the ethereal CPS2 in regards to maximum plot ratio and building height, it meets the requirements of the Metropol-itan Region Scheme and the current City Planning Scheme.

Under CPS2, a graduated building height restriction is proposed, starting from fifteen metres at the Mounts Bay Road frontage up to thirty metres above natural ground level. The draft scheme also allows a maximum plot ratio of 0.77:1.

The proposed development has a building height of thirty-nine metres and a proposed plot ratio of 1.0:1.

A staff note to council says Mr Kierath recently overturned council’s refusal of a thirteen-storey development planned for 2 Mounts Bay Road on appeal.

In that case, council had attempted to apply CPS2 to the development.

The note says it could be inferred the height and plot ratio requirements in CPS2 do not outweigh current provisions and cannot reasonably be imposed.

A spokesman for Mr Kierath said no time could be given on the gazettal of CPS2 but it had been given highest priority.

Several councillors said the scheme had been “sitting on Mr Kierath’s desk” since 1997.

Councillor Tess Stroud moved the development be refused because it was not consistent with the orderly planning of the area and council’s plans for Crawley.

Mrs Stroud did say council would be prepared to consider a proposed development for the site meeting the height requirements of the CPS2.

She said eleven storeys would be overpowering for the area.

Councillor Laurance Good-man said that plans for the development had been before council on several occasions.

It first came before council in 1991 when it was approved. The approval was renewed in 1993 and 1995, on both occasions before council had finalised its thoughts on CPS2.

“There has been ample opportunity to develop on the site under the old rules,” Mr Goodman said.