A retirement village will be built on land in Gisborne originally zoned for hospital use after Macedon Ranges councillors voted to amend the shire’s planning scheme.
Benetas applied to council to develop a retirement village on land at 5 Neal Street, 8 Neal Street, 78 Hamilton Street and part of the Neal Street road reserve, with the application debated by councillors over a number of council terms.
The land was donated by Humphrey Dixon to the Gisborne and District Bush Nursing Hospital in 1987, with a restrictive covenant set on the land that stated it could only be used for a hospital. As such, the land is not zoned for residential dwellings.
Benetas applied to have the Macedon Ranges planning scheme amended to identify the land as a preferred area for medium density housing.
Last year, council referred that request to an independent planning panel after receiving 21 community submissions on the proposal.
A report to the 25 February council meeting stated the panel recommended council approve the amendment and issue a permit for the development subject to a few changes.
However, not all councillors agreed with the panel.
Cr Jennifer Anderson said she worried that if covenant was removed and the land rezoned, the site could be used purely for residential development if the permit holder chose not to develop the retirement village.
Cr Alison Joseph said the land was is the only site in Gisborne that was zoned for hospital use, adding that the Gisborne community may need these types of facilities in the future.
She moved that council abandon the planning scheme amendment. Councillors were split four to four on her proposal requiring mayor Kate Kendall to use her casting vote to defeat the motion.
Cr Janet Pearce then moved that council adopt the amendment, but added a provision to enter an agreement with the owner of the land that the site be only used as a retirement village and/or a residential aged care facility, and not for housing.
This motion passed after another split, with Cr Kendall again using her casting vote.
Council will now ask the planning minister to approve the amendment.
