At the last council meeting a question from the public was asked in relation to dual occupancies in Coldstream.
James Larmour-Reid , Director of Planning Building & Health has made available the following answer. It is included below without any changes:
'The Shire of Yarra Ranges has not changed its planning policies in relation to the Coldstream estate. The residential areas of Coldstream are included in the Residential 1 Zone under the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, which provides for a range of land uses, including medium density housing.
When considering an application for medium density housing in Coldstream, or anywhere else, the Shire must take into account a number of factors including the land use zone, any other land use controls such as overlays, planning policies, the residential development standard (ResCode), and any covenants or restrictions that apply to the land.
The Municipal Strategic Statement, which forms part of the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, classifies Coldstream as a ‘Rural Township’. It is planning policy in rural townships to direct medium density housing to the larger townships, such as Healesville and Yarra Junction; and to discourage it in smaller townships such as Coldstream. This policy has been in place for some time and has not changed. Council’s recently adopted Housing Strategy, which has yet to be incorporated into the planning scheme, adopts a similar position to the current policy in relation to Coldstream.
Nevertheless, the above policies do not prevent a property owner or developer from making a planning permit application for medium density housing in Coldstream. It is possible that these applications have been rare in the past due to limited demand, the existence of the above policy, and covenants on many properties which preclude the development of more than one dwelling.
I have been advised that a number of planning permit applications for medium density housing in Coldstream have been lodged in recent months. This has not been in response to any policy change on the part of the Shire. Furthermore, the Shire is obliged to consider any planning permit application lodged with it. Each application must be considered on its merits taking into account the decision guidelines described above.
Given that the Shire has not changed its long-standing planning policy in relation to Coldstream it is not intended to write to all residents in the town in relation to medium density housing. Nevertheless, as you are aware, the public notification provisions of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 will ensure that residents are made aware of applications that may affect them. In addition, where objections are received about applications the Shire conducts consultation meetings so that the concerns raised in objections can be discussed and, where possible, changes made to applications in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.'
Regards
James Larmour-Reid
Director Planning Building & Health
When considering an application for medium density housing in Coldstream, or anywhere else, the Shire must take into account a number of factors including the land use zone, any other land use controls such as overlays, planning policies, the residential development standard (ResCode), and any covenants or restrictions that apply to the land.
The Municipal Strategic Statement, which forms part of the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, classifies Coldstream as a ‘Rural Township’. It is planning policy in rural townships to direct medium density housing to the larger townships, such as Healesville and Yarra Junction; and to discourage it in smaller townships such as Coldstream. This policy has been in place for some time and has not changed. Council’s recently adopted Housing Strategy, which has yet to be incorporated into the planning scheme, adopts a similar position to the current policy in relation to Coldstream.
Nevertheless, the above policies do not prevent a property owner or developer from making a planning permit application for medium density housing in Coldstream. It is possible that these applications have been rare in the past due to limited demand, the existence of the above policy, and covenants on many properties which preclude the development of more than one dwelling.
I have been advised that a number of planning permit applications for medium density housing in Coldstream have been lodged in recent months. This has not been in response to any policy change on the part of the Shire. Furthermore, the Shire is obliged to consider any planning permit application lodged with it. Each application must be considered on its merits taking into account the decision guidelines described above.
Given that the Shire has not changed its long-standing planning policy in relation to Coldstream it is not intended to write to all residents in the town in relation to medium density housing. Nevertheless, as you are aware, the public notification provisions of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 will ensure that residents are made aware of applications that may affect them. In addition, where objections are received about applications the Shire conducts consultation meetings so that the concerns raised in objections can be discussed and, where possible, changes made to applications in order to achieve the best possible outcomes.'
Regards
James Larmour-Reid
Director Planning Building & Health
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