By Goya Dmytryshchak
Plans to build 11 two-storey dwellings on two house lots in Altona have been rejected by the state’s planning tribunal.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has upheld Hobsons Bay council’s refusal to grant applicant Shane Ruthven a permit for the proposed development at
100 and 102 Civic Parade.
The council’s grounds of refusal had included the planned dwellings being an over-development and inconsistent with neighbourhood character.
The site falls under the Hobsons Bay South Neighbourhood Character Policy, which is aimed at maintaining the existing dwelling pattern and minimising the loss of front gardens and impact of buildings over two storeys.
VCAT member Bill Sibonis said the council had been concerned that two buildings, separated by a 2.83-metre gap, did not fit into the streetscape.
“A further concern is the absence of ground level service yards for those dwellings which rely on balconies for their private open space … this may result in occupants seeking to enclose the front yard through the erection of a high fence on the frontage to provide ground level usable space for clotheslines,” he said.
Mr Sibonis said he shared the council’s concern about a central driveway area that limited the landscaping and would create an “arguably unattractive environment”.
“This entire area has the appearance of being designed to function as a vehicle access area rather than one which has the additional role as the address for three of the dwellings,” he said.
“It does not represent an acceptable outcome.”
