Plans for a $12.8 million unit complex in Newcastle West featuring the city's largest vehicle stacker have been approved by Newcastle council.
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Councillors voted (8-3) in favour of a development application to redevelop the adjoining 120 Parry Street and 16 Hall Street at a committee meeting on Tuesday night.
The project includes the demolition of existing buildings and construction of an eight-storey development comprising 30 apartments and a ground-floor business premises.
The development comprises two towers, one facing Parry Street and the other Hall Street, that are linked by communal space on level one.
Parry & Hall Projects Pty Ltd lodged the DA in April, 2020, making modifications following community feedback and a public voice meeting held earlier this year.
The latest proposal was exhibited in early June and attracted 12 submissions, mainly from neighbours concerned about the development's height and size, and issues like overshadowing, privacy and parking impacts.
The unit complex does not comply with multiple development standards, but council staff recommended it for approval as the breaches were deemed, on balance, acceptable.
The Parry Street tower will be wedged between two existing unit blocks and rises 29 metres, exceeding the area's height limit by 20 per cent.
The development features eight one-bedroom units, three two-bedroom units, 17 three-bedroom units and two four-bedroom units.
The applicant had proposed 45 car-parking spaces for residents and visitors, 44 of which were to be accommodated in a four-level vehicle stacker, but Cr Carol Duncan (ALP) moved an amendment to ensure visitor spaces were separate to the stacker.
"It's my understanding that visitors can't use car stackers because of the need for inductions to use them," she said.
Her plan reduced the number of visitor spaces from seven to two, and resident spaces from 37 to 36.
Staff said five visitor spaces were required under council standards but the variation for only two was supported because of the site's proximity to public transport and essential services.
Cr Kath Elliott (IND) said she could not support the proposal because of the impacts on surrounding properties. She said neighbours were concerned residents wouldn't use the car stacker and would ultimately park on the street, leading to fewer public spaces.
But Cr John Mackenzie (GRN) said "it would be a shame to not approve this development on the perceived idea that people won't use car stackers".
Despite voting against approving the DA, he said "it was hard to imagine" a development more suitable for the area and given the "complexities of the site" some concessions were required.
He said he was more concerned about the height exceedance and "outstanding amenity issues".
"For some of the apartments there are quite serious solar access deficiencies," he said.
"That being said, it's worthwhile reflecting on how close we are to a very good development."
Staff said 18 of the 30 units complied with solar access requirements, but greater compliance was unlikely to be achieved because of the adjacent unit blocks on either side of the Parry Street tower.
Cr John Church (IND) acknowledged the developer had made "some amendments" to address neighbours' concerns but he said the proposal was "clearly an overdevelopment".
"I agree we need more housing ... but not at any cost," he said.
"I am convinced that this DA will harm the amenity and livability of surrounding residences."
Cr Brad Luke (LIB) said the alternative to infill development like the project proposed was urban sprawl on "greenfield sites" the city had almost run out of.
He said the car stacker was an "innovative idea" to allow for additional housing on a "site that couldn't have done much else".
Lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the city's urban design review panel had provided a report saying "they were comfortable with the amendments that have been made" and the DA was worthy of approval.
Crs Church, Elliott and Mackenzie voted against approving the DA.
Cr Andrew Rufo (IND) was absent from the meeting.
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