A HIGH-RISE development in Applecross seeking a 100 per cent height bonus to go as high as 20 storeys was rejected by the Metro Central Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) last night.
Land owner Mustera Property Group was seeking an extra 10 storeys height for the building at the corner of Forbes Road and Kishorn Road, which falls within the M-10 area of the Canning Bridge Activity Centre Plan (CBACP) area.
The M-10 area limits buildings to 10 storeys but developments that provide some community benefit can receive discretionary bonus height concessions.
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READ NOWPanel members raised concerns about the difficulty in assessing how many community benefits were needed for the development to warrant a 100 per cent height bonus.
On the five member panel, only Rachel Chapman voted in support of the development. She cited its exemplary design and her belief it met the requirements of the CBACP.
Among the benefits Mustera proposed were public toilets, a shower, locker, bicycle racks, a publicity accessible garden space, co-working space, 15 short-stay accommodation rooms and the ceding on 125sqm of land to the State Government.
Every third floor of the development was proposed to have a sky garden, with six in total.
Mustera Property Group executive director Nick Zborowski said mediating an outcome through the State Administrative Tribunal process was among next steps being considered.
“The City’s officers cited the development was consistent with the goals of the Canning Bridge Activity Centre Plan and proposed exemplary design as well as high levels of sustainability and community benefit,” he said.
Earlier in the meeting, a number residents made deputations to panel and raised concerns such as the need for the proposed community benefits, overshadowing, traffic issues and more.
City of Melville Design Review Panel member Malcolm Mackay described the development as the best piece of new architecture he had seen in his 25 years in Perth.
During the City of Melville’s consultation for the project, 209 submissions were received with only five in support of the development.
City of Melville councillors voted against its own planning officers’ recommendation that the development be approved during a special council meeting less than 24-hours before the panel meeting.
The councillors cited reasons for its rejection as it believed the development was “inconsistent with the hierarchical structure of the CBACP”, the community benefit was disproportionate for bonus height sought, it was on the border of the H4 area, which allows for four-storey developments, there was community concern about the bonus heights and concerns about overshadowing.
Last year a proposal for a 16-storey Kintail Road development in the same M-10 area, which asked for grace for an additional six storeys, was rejected twice by the JDAP following concerns about its planned community benefits.
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