The proponent of a Development Application (DA) for six towers of units in Gosford which was refused by the Regional Planning Panel in October last year has asked for a review of the decision.
The Panel refused the $148M development at the corner of Mann St and Dwyer St, North Gosford, for reasons including height, bulk and setbacks.
Applicant Ken Schmidt submitted an amended application for 339 units across six blocks with some commercial and cafe premises.
The original application was first submitted in 2016 when bonus heights were allowed.
Under the revised submission, two of the blocks would be 14 storeys high and the rest would be seven to eight storeys.
The application said the design of the four smaller tower blocks was consistent with numerous recently approved or constructed developments within the area and “the design of the two taller tower blocks is consistent with the Waterside development which forms the southern Gateway of the City Centre”.
“Portions of blocks one and four are located within the B4 zone and are also permitted to have an allowable building height of 46.8m,” the application said.
“The southwest portion of block one’s roof is sitting above the 23.4m height limit, however this portion of the building can have a building height limit of 46.8m and therefore complies.
“All of block four achieves a maximum building height of 23.13m and complies with all the applicable building height limits.”
The applicant said the proposed development was therefore of a type and form which was consistent with Council’s stated objectives of the B4 zone as well as the vision outlined within the Gosford City Centre Statement of Strategic Intent.
“The design of the development includes landscape boulevards along the Mann St frontages giving a lush, landscaped entry to Gosford,” the application said.
“This is enhanced by the height of the two slimline corner tower blocks which have been designed generally at the same RL (Reduced Level) creating a classic gateway statement.”
Two blocks are located on the eastern side of Mann St, and the remaining four on the western side of Mann St.”
The two main tower blocks, which are sited on the eastern and western sides of Mann St, provide ground level commercial and retail uses, with residential units above.
The remaining tower blocks are residential only, comprising a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units.
The eastern and western tower blocks each share a common podium and basement carparking levels respectively, with vehicular access gained from Dwyer St for the western tower blocks (blocks three to six) and from Dwyer and Hills Sts for the eastern tower blocks (blocks one and two).
The application submitted under the review has: reduced building heights for all tower blocks; reduced the number of units to 339; and increased setbacks and building separation.
A date for the Panel to assess the application was not known at time of publication.
Merilyn Vale