Suggested setbacks would make redevelopment unviable: South Perth landowners

SOUTH Perth property owners have raised concerns about the building setback requirements in the proposed amendment to the Draft South Perth Activity Plan.

Amendment 61 proposed to set building setbacks of 6m from the road front and 4m on each side boundary for Hardy Street, Charles Street and Bowman Street in the Richardson precinct.

Public advertising of the Draft South Perth Activity Centre Plan, including Amendment 61, was deferred as decided in the October council meeting.

Property owner John Garmony said there were about 50 small, narrow lots with 14.08m frontages which made up about 60 per cent of land in the Richardson precinct.

Mr Garmony said the proposal would leave just a 6.08m central building area for development on each lot.

“Under the proposed amendment, a large portion of the land currently held in small lots cannot be feasibly developed unless amalgamated into larger lots which many owners do not want,” he said.

Architect Peter Jodrell said the proposed setbacks did not provide flexibility or development rights for affected landowners.

“We do not have viable redevelopment options under this scheme,” he said.

Mr Garmony said the hype to date has been between those against high-rise and pro high-rise developers.

“Small lot business owners who have served the community for several decades have been forgotten in the fight,” he said.

“This follows an already extensive public consultation involving interest groups and independent town planning consultants over the last two years.”

The draft South Perth Activity Centre Plan and associated amendment is planned to be resubmitted to Council in March.