Loch Ard Drive shops plan referred to state government

A PROPOSAL to expand the number of shops on Torquay’s Loch Ard Drive continues to be opposed by some nearby properties, with the Surf Coast Shire referring the matter to the state government.

At their meeting last month, councillors considered a report on a planning scheme amendment and planning permit application for 3-5 Loch Ard Drive, which would have rezoned the land from General Residential Zone to Commercial 1 Zone and allowed the development of the land for four commercial premises next to the existing shops on the street, an upper-level dwelling and associated car parking.

Three neighbouring landowners objected to the planning application, and at their meeting in December, the council resolved to defer a decision to enable the proponent to investigate options for a modified proposal with restricted commercial uses/offices and a dwelling with a lower height to reduce amenity and visual impacts on neighbouring residential properties.

The proponent then offered to enter into a section 173 agreement restricting future uses on the land to exclude take away food premises and convenience restaurants, as well as restricting the height of the dwelling to no greater than 7.5 metres above natural ground level.

None of the objectors withdrew their submissions and the new proposal drew another submission from a neighbouring landowner, who stated that although the changes were “a minor improvement”, they “continued to fundamentally oppose the rezoning and commercial development due to its incompatibility with the residential character of the neighbourhood and range of amenity impacts”.

As the shire was unable to resolve the submissions, councillors voted at their August meeting to ask the Victorian Planning Minister to appoint an independent planning panel to consider the planning scheme amendment and planning permit application.