Plans for a boarding house and neighbourhood shop in Wyong have resurfaced with revisions to address numerous reasons Central Coast Council rejected the project in November 2021.
NCS Ventures Pty Ltd wants approval to replace an old house at 24 Jennings Rd with a three-storey boarding house consisting of 28 self-contained double rooms, manager’s residence, a communal room, a shop on the ground floor and basement parking for 16 vehicles.
The boarding house will be privately managed with a manager available from 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday, and the shop will be open on weekdays from 8am to 6pm and on Saturday from 8am to 1pm.
Council gave 24 reasons when it refused the original development application (DA) with the main ones being building height, overbearing bulk and scale, incompatible with local character, various impacts on neighbouring properties, pedestrian and vehicular safety conflicts especially with the school next door, ineffective surveillance from the manager’s room because of its location in the building.
Council’s report said the nil/minimal setbacks meant overshadowing of neighbouring properties, lack of privacy from the overlooking open, elevated walkways and insufficient space for screening vegetation particularly on the boundary with Wyong High School.
Also, Council said there was insufficient detail in the management plan about the boarding house operation including tenant wellbeing or engagement plans to build a sense of community, social cohesion and mitigation of perceived impacts of anti-social behaviour.
Council’s development assessment report said the DA did not demonstrate the appropriateness of a neighbourhood shop and lacked analysis of demand in that location and social impact.
The applicant has requested Council approval of a variation in the 12m building height development standard to allow for 12.29m at the lift overrun in one corner of the building because of the slope of the site.
The Statement of Environment Effects (SEE) says there are many positive socio-economic benefits of the proposed boarding house with much-needed short-term accommodation close to Wyong railway station and the town centre.
An updated development application (616/2021) and revised SEE submission responding to matters raised by Council is open for public comment until September 23 on Council’s website.
Sue Murray