By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Greater Dandenong councillors have overruled council planners by knocking back a multi-townhouse development at 39 Ellt Crescent, Noble Park.
Neighbours had objected to the proposed six double-storey dwellings on the corner site, according to a council report.
The proposal would have replaced an existing one-storey brick dwelling.
At a meeting on 24 September, councillors unanimously – and without debate – backed Cr Roz Blades’s motion to reject the proposal.
The motion stated concerns about overdevelopment, neighbourhood character and insufficient parking spaces.
Cr Matthew Kirwan later said the lack of a single visitor car parking space on site “won’t cut it”.
“Particularly in the case of this development where we have ‘studies’ that are likely to be practically used as bedrooms.
“As townhouses are increasingly being built in the municipality for families – and hence multiple cars – … the fantasy that visitor car parks are not required shouldn’t be tolerated.
“The developer should have included townhouses with less bedrooms or just less townhouses.”
Council planners had recommended the proposal as being well suited to the established residential area.
It was generally consistent with the “emerging pattern of development” in an area that has a mix of single and double-storey housing as well as multi-dwelling sites, the council report stated.
“The reduction of one visitor car space is considered acceptable having considered that there would be no common property and that there would be five on-street car spaces adjacent to the subject site.”
