TWO City of Melville councillors will make deputations to the Metro Central Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) asking them to restrict a development in Applecross to 14 storeys.
The council rejected its own administration’s Responsible Authority Report to endorse the 16-storey development at 20 and 22 Kintail Road following concerns about its height during a June 26 meeting.
Hillam Architect’s $39 million development includes 91 apartments and the capacity for community spaces.
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READ NOWThe development is located within the Canning Bridge Activity Centre Plan (CBACP) area, in a section that allows for 10-storey developments, although there is discretionary height concessions for community benefits.
The council indicated it would be prepared to support a 14-storey development with similar designs and benefits to the community.
The JDAP will make a decision about the development with councillors Nicholas Pazolli and Steve Kepert to make presentations.
During the meeting, a council officer said as the development showed exemplary design principles, had public art and spaces for the community, it deserved the extra storeys.
Councillors asked questions about the development’s benefit for the community as well its impact on traffic and the wider area.
Cr Pazolli said the development undermined the (CBACP) and the council needed to send a message to developers about setting boundaries to bonus heights.
Councillor Duncan Macphail spoke against pushing for 14 storeys because it was not good governance to pick a number of storeys on the hop.
The motion was carried five votes to three, with Mayor Rusell Aubrey and councillors Tim Barling and Nicole Robins leaving the chambers after making declarations of interests at the start of meeting while Patricia Phelan did not vote and Karen Wheatland left midway through.
It was mentioned at the meeting that mental health organisation Youth Focus could potentially use one of the spaces with some councillors expressing concern about a “drug and alcohol clinic” but it was mentioned it would likely be a counselling facility.