A PLAN to develop two multi-storey buildings on 1020 to 1026 Wellington Street, West Perth has been approved, despite a recommendation for refusal from Perth City Council staff.
The two proposed buildings will house fourteen residential apartments and three shops and be built over a car park.
Council staff were particularly concerned about the lack of setbacks proposed for the $1.5 million development.
A staff note to council argued buildings in West Perth should be well set back from their boundaries and “evoke a sense of prestige which should be further enhanced by permanent, in-ground landscaping”.
A council request for comment on the plan from adjoining owners and occupiers drew several objections.
Those received included the comment that the reduced setbacks did not achieve the intent of preserving green spaces and a semi-residential environment
Further, the nil setbacks could result in intrusion on neighbouring properties and block sunlight to neighbouring courtyards
Councillor Laurence Good-man led the charge at council’s 11 April meeting to have the project approved because council had previously approved a similar development on the site next door.
Lord Mayor Peter Nattrass said such an approval would create a precedent for Perth.
Mr Goodman argued the precedent had been created with approval of a three-storey office and apartment building for 1010 to 1018 Wellington Street.
Council first considered the proposal in June last year and knocked it back because it did not comply with setback requirements.
It was approved at the July council meeting with Dr Nattrass using his casting vote.
Mr Goodman said council should be consistent, especially in regard to approvals passed for neighbouring properties.
“Wellington Street should not to be compared with the rest of West Perth,” he said.
“It should be compared more with Wellington Street in East Perth where building to lot lines is allowed.”
