Friday, August 14, 2009

New Houses In Coldstream: dual occupancy 2


The following is a petition circulating through our Coldstream community at the moment.

I believe there is a counter petition circulating as well but I have not seen it, but would love to publish it here as well.

Please e mail me if you wish to post a comment on this petition (either for or against) and I will add your comment to this Coldstream Blog.

You must supply your name and address or contact phone number. These details will not be published on the blog but needed.

Regards

Mario Galteri

COLDSTREAM COMMUNITY PETITION

For approximately the past 10 years Coldstream has stagnated, not only due to Coldstream itself being surrounded by Green Wedge agricultural land, but due to the Shire of Yarra Ranges policies restricting growth within the residential area of Coldstream itself (Coldstream residential area flanked by Killara Road, Maroondah Highway & Ingram Road).

The State Government has set down guidelines and regulations to ensure that all Councils must provide that all communities must be sustainable.

The aspects of sustainability include housing, social and economic well being and protection of the environment.

These sustainable aspects must be maintained as a balance to ensure that all communities grow and prosper.

However Coldstream has become stagnant, due to the surrounding green wedge land constricting its growth, and Council’s Planning Policies.

It is widely recognised that more housing means more economic growth which ensures a communities survival.

More housing means more business, more employment, more economic growth which in turn benefits the community ensuring its ongoing survival with business, schools, sporting clubs, community clubs and groups etc, providing all these services to its community:

If the community does not grow and prosper, a ripple effect will be created whereby Coldstream will remain stagnant, reducing the value of the area, reducing the ability for businesses to remain in the area and value of the existing housing stock will not increase as other areas do.

The Coldstream residential area currently provides an opportunity to increase the housing stock offering not only affordable housing but diversity of choice for those wishing to remain in Coldstream such as, young couples, retirees, young families and single persons through infill development.

What is “infill” development. In short “Infill” development means a second house can be built behind the existing house.

Some of the residential area in Coldstream cannot be developed further due to a Covenant over the land stating “Single Dwelling only” however other parts of Coldstream can be as the covenant states “Residential Purpose” this meaning that infill development can take place.

To explain further, throughout the residential area of Coldstream there are various sizes of lots, ranging from 700 square metres through to over 900 square metres, however generally most lots are around the 800 to 900 square metres with single dwellings on these lots. There are only 3 vacant lots left in Coldstream.

As this housing stock is relatively “young” (30 to 40 years old) these homes provide an opportunity in some cases to allow a second dwelling to be built in the rear where practical, thus providing diversity of housing for singles, couples and/or the ageing community who wish to remain/reside in Coldstream on a site with minimal maintenance required.

Not all sites throughout Coldstream can provide additional housing (restricted by covenants -- Single Dwelling only or the position of the existing house may not allow for another dwelling on the lot as the existing house may be setback too far etc) therefore not all of Coldstream is able to provide additional housing, which in effect creates an advantage as the residential area of Coldstream can provide a variety of housing in so far as some homes would remain the same and other sites have the potential to be further developed providing a choice of housing stock.

This situation provides not only growth for Coldstream but adds value to those sites that can provide “infill” development.

We are seeking your assistance in the way of your signature on this Petition, for the applications for infill development which will assist in the growth of Coldstream and to ensure the ongoing benefits and growth of the Coldstream community.

Please feel free to call me if you have any further queries.

Yours faithfully,

Vari Perez

mapbuild@xtreme.net.au

Supported by Surecraft Homes (Vic) P/L

info@surecrafthomes.com.au

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