A development application to construct a two-storey residential flat building in Booker Bay has recently finished its exhibition and residents are not happy.
The applicant seeks to construct the building at 90-92 Booker Bay Rd which is located along the Booker Bay foreshore.
Plans indicate the building will contain five units and ground level, single-storey parking for 10 cars which will be sleeved behind the front unit.
The units will include four with three-bedrooms and one with four-bedrooms.
The rear, ground level units ill have covered alfresco areas and small in-ground plunge pools on the water side.
The existing dwelling houses on both properties, along with a garage structure located on the front boundary of 92 Booker Bay Rd will be demolished if plans are approved by Council.
The applicant said the form of the development will be broken into two separate residential elements, separated by single-storey garages, and will have a similar appearance to a large dwelling house on each site.
The developer has said site coverage will generally similar to the adjoining properties to the north-west.
The applicant also said the proposal does not include the removal of any significant trees, and the existing screen planting along the rear side boundary adjoining 88 Booker Bay Rd will be retained, and additional landscaping will be provided.
Over 20 residents have made submissions within the three-week notice period concerning the building size, density and character of the proposed building.
One resident said they were concerned about the bulk and scale of the proposal as it “will do nothing to enhance the surrounding neighbourhood; the volume of proposed new structure is imposing and does not adequately address guidelines”.
Another neighbour said they had an issue with the “mass and sheer volume” of the development as it was “not in proportion to the size of the block of land.
“There seems to be an attempt to fit in as much money-making housing into the block as is possible without any consideration to the small enclave of Booker Bay’s scenic quality, heritage, character and village,” the submission said.
Another resident said they had concerns that Unit 1 at the front of the proposed building will block their view of green hilltops across at Daleys Point “which is a visual amenity that is currently enjoyed by …other existing dwellings.
“A development with essentially five properties with 17 bedrooms with potential of housing at the least 34 people (not to mention their associated family and friends), with 10 car spaces and a traffic light system which is of major concern as far as density of people living in this space and is inappropriate and totally out of character to most dwellings within Booker Bay,” the resident also said.
With the exhibition period of this proposal now closed, it is now in the hands of Council who will decide on the outcome of the development application.
To keep track of this application, visit Central Coast Council’s website.
Source:
DA tracker, Sep 29
DA 62725/2021