DEVELOPERS beware. It appears simply meeting the Perth City Council’s legal planning requirements are no longer enough.
An application for a thirteen storey, twelve apartment building at 2 Mounts Bay Road, Crawley, considered by council at its 13 July meeting, met all requirements of the City Planning Scheme.
In spite of this, Councillor Tess Stroud successfully moved the $7.5 million development be refused because it exceeded council’s Draft City Planning Scheme’s height requirement by eight metres.
The Draft City Planning Scheme is yet to be made law.
Mrs Stroud said the draft planning scheme should be considered because its gazettal was approaching.
However, as council has modified the draft scheme since it was last advertised, it is likely it will have to be readvertised – lengthening the wait for the scheme’s introduction.
Mrs Stroud also suggested council reconsider the proposal if the applicants reduced the height of the building.
“They are only being asked for a small reduction such as ten storeys instead of thirteen,” Mrs Stroud said.
She also raised concerns over the wind tunnel effect the development might create.
Council staff had recommended the development be approved.
In fact, identical proposals for the site had been approved by council on five previous occasions, the latest in 1997.
Councillor Bert Tudori said the development should be approved.
“It complies with the Town Planning Scheme and that is what we have to consider,” Mr Tudori said.
“How we can consider anything else is beyond me.”
