Kingsley church expanding to accommodate gowing numbers

A CHURCH in Kingsley is expanding its premises to accommodate its Sunday morning parishioners.

The Anglican Parish of Kingsley North – Woodvale on Forest Hill Drive had applied for development approval for a new kitchen, disabled toilet, extension to the existing tea room, cleaner’s closet, meeting room, patio and shed.

However, at the City of Joondalup’s briefing session this month, one neighbouring resident expressed his concerns about privacy issues with the height of the land and the proposed fencing.

Architect Erwin Biemel said he was “aware of a minor overlooking issue created by a difference in level between the property immediately behind the church and the property diagonally across and behind”.

He said this created a “minor window where you can see over the fence”.

“I think that is easy to address with some planting on our side and also by putting some lattice work on the dividing fence between the residences if the neighbour will agree to it,” he said.

“It’s a bit hard to increase the height of the fence behind us because that deals with the neighbour behind us and they have full privacy.”

He said the additions to the church would allow for the 70 to 90 parishioners who attended Sunday morning services to be able to congregate in the tea room, rather than spilling out under the patio like they do currently.

A council document said the proposal met the requirements of the district planning except for two setbacks where one is 1.2m instead of 6m, and the other is 1m instead of 3m.

It was advertised to surrounding land owners and two objections were received with concerns of potential noise and loss of privacy, insufficient car parking and height issues.

“It is considered, however, the additions do not have an adverse impact on the amenity of the surrounding residential area and overall, the design ties in with the existing development,” the document said.

Councillors conditionally approved the additions at their November 15 meeting.