A DERELICT former petrol station site on Guildford Road, which has been vacant for 24 years, could potentially be developed into a six-storey development with 52 multiple dwellings.
At the May 8 committee meeting, Bayswater council initiated landowner D and Z Holdings Pty Ltd’s proposed amendment to the Town Planning Scheme No.24 to rezone Lot 22, 454 Guildford Road from a residential density code of R40 to R-AC3.
The 3069sq m site’s current zoning and provisions of Special Control Area No.8 allowed for a maximum of 13 grouped dwellings to a maximum height of two storeys.
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READ NOWCouncillors passed Mayor Dan Bull’s alternate motion to initiate the scheme amendment to Town Planning Scheme No.24, 8-3.
Cr Giorgia Johnson’s amendment, for the applicant Planning Solutions submitting any future Local Development Plans or development applications should activate the front setback of the area, was supported.
Deputy Mayor Chris Cornish and Crs Barry McKenna and Elli Petersen-Pik voted against it.
Planning Solutions consulted nearby residents about the potential future development of the site and received concerns over height, overshadowing, setbacks, privacy, a decrease in property value, noise and traffic.
Planning Solutions director Ben Doyle said the petrol station closed in 1992 but a roster system was still in place.
“It is absolutely inevitable that the local planning strategy recommend higher residential density on this site,” he said.
“The world cannot stand still waiting for the City’s officers to do their planning.
“If this is delayed much further, there is a chance that the landowner is going to miss the next property cycle and this site will stay vacant for another 10 years.”
Mr Doyle said Planning Solutions was happy to work with the City on community consultation.
Cr Bull said the site was “iconic” and the proposed density was appropriate for the area.
“It is my view that any development that occurs there should be undertaken in a spectacular way and I think that the owners are looking to do something here,” he said.
“It is a gateway site affectively because people who are driving from the east as they enter our district will potentially be one of the first significant developments in the area.”
Cr Petersen-Pik said while it was “great news” the owner decided to do something on the land, the request for six storeys from two was “ad-hoc” and a “significant change”.
The proposed scheme amendment documents will be advertised.
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