Housing move backed, just

By Nicole Williams
DEBATE raged at Monday night’s council meeting over a plan to demolish unused shops and build student townhouses in Dandenong.
The original application proposed the demolition of shops on the corner of Leonard and Louis streets to build four townhouses with a ‘reverse living’ style design.
Council officers recommended the application be refused due to the design and lack of car parking spaces, but an alternative motion – put forward by Councillor Maria Sampey, for three townhouses with a more appropriate design on the site – was supported by the majority of councillors.
Councillors Angela Long and Paul Donovan argued any number of townhouse would be an overdevelopment of the site and a lack of car parking spaces would also cause problems.
Cr Sampey said the area was ripe for redevelopment and would provide perfect accommodation for students.
“It is an old area that is no longer occupied as a shopping centre,” she said.
“This development could be the start of a redevelopment of the area.”
Cr Sampey said the developer was trying to provide low-cost student accommodation in an area close to Chisholm TAFE and public transport.
“There is always a shortage of student accommodation and this is what the applicant is trying to achieve,” she said.
Cr Long said the biggest concern was the lack of parking.
“Leonard Street is not a wide street – cars will park on the street,” she said.
Cr Donovan also argued that the application was inappropriate.
“It is a block of small shops and to turn a shop into four apartments is quite extraordinary,” he said.
“I would like to see shops like this (no longer used for retail) used for residential purposes but used appropriately.
“This is an inappropriate design.”
The alternate recommendation to issue a notice of decision was passed by councillors and a permit will be granted subject to the new plans being submitted for approval.
Councillors Sampey, Jim Memeti, Pinar Yesil, Roz Blades, Peter Brown and Youhorn Chea all voted in favour of the alternate recommendation.
Councillors Long, Donovan, John Kelly and Yvonne Herring voted against the proposal.