Variety of feedback on proposed Albany Centre plan change
February 17, 2005

A wide range of views has been expressed in submissions to North Shore City Council on the future of the Albany Centre.

The aim of proposed plan change 9 and variation 67, which were notified late last year, is to ensure Albany Centre becomes a high quality, vibrant and sustainable urban centre.

North Shore City senior environmental policy advisor, John Duguid, says some submissions on this plan change were concerned with the height of buildings in the Northern part of the centre, zoned Business 11.

"People are worried about there being no restrictions on the height of buildings in three particular areas, but we want to make it clear that there are still controls in place," he says.

Previous feedback from the community resulted in a strategy for the centre that included: a new mixed-use zone; a new structure plan; new rules for the design and location of buildings and development; stricter controls on apartments; and more stringent rules for development.

The proposed plan change would mean that a small precinct of the centre near State Highway 1 and McClymonts Rd, could have buildings more than 30m high, or 10 storeys, on them.

"However, that is controlled by a floor area ratio restriction, which means that how high a building can be depends on how much of the site area is covered," says Mr Duguid.

"For example, if the whole site coverage is used, the building will only be able to be a certain height, but if only half the site coverage is used, it would be proportionally more.

"A building more than 30m high is not permitted as of right. Its impact, such as the adverse wind effects it could have on pedestrians below, would have to be assessed."

John Duguid says the original submissions for plan change 9 and variation 67 are now being summarised, and in about three weeks they will be put out again for people to make further comment on.

Hearings are expected to be held in June or July.

(ends)

© Scoop Media