Highton Village car parks rezoned for growth

THE City of Greater Geelong will rezone some car parks in the Highton Village Shopping Centre for commercial use as part of the council’s adopted planning scheme amendment for the area.

Amendment C457ggee to the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme has been through consultation, previous council resolutions, and independent panel review.

The final form of the amendment, adopted by the council at its meeting last month, includes rezoning city-owned car parks at 1A Taylor Court and 19 Belle Vue Avenue and roads within the shopping centre to Commercial 1 Zone, and applying a new Design and Development Overlay Schedule 52 to manage building heights, design and setbacks.

The council will also reduce the overall preferred maximum building height suggested in the Highton Village Urban Design Framework (UDF) from four storeys to two storeys.

The City says the amendment ultimately responds to existing retail and residential activity, anticipated growth, community feedback, and the precinct’s designation as an increased housing diversity area.

Barrabool Hills Ward councillor Ron Nelson said the panel report was definitive in its support of the amendment.

“Thank you to the community members and traders who continue to strive for the best for Highton Village,” he said.

“More than 4,500 people signed a petition, organised by Highton resident Graham Hobbs, related to the Highton Village UDF.”

He said the council had listened to community feedback during the consultation phases and made adjustments to the amendment as a result, including to building height limits.

“Having an independent lens over the amendment and submissions was an extremely important part of this process, and we have been given a clear recommendation by the panel to adopt the amendment in its revised form,” Cr Nelson said.

“We recognise significant changes have been made that balance community concerns, reflect existing activities and plan for sustainable growth.”

The amendment has been submitted to Victorian Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny for final approval. To download the full amendment, head to geelongaustralia.com.au/amendments.