Torquay retirement village gets full approval at VCAT

THE proposed retirement village for Cypress Lane in Torquay has been approved in full by the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

The hearing at VCAT between the developers and objectors to the planning application took place over five days in April and May, with the decision handed down earlier today (Wednesday, May 29).

To be built on plots of land surrounding Cypress Lane, which runs off Coombes Road, the retirement village would contain 191 independent living units, a central community and recreation facility, and car parking.

In their decision, VCAT senior member Alison Glynn and member Cassandra Rae granted a planning permit for the submitted plans.

Their cited reasons include:

• The proposal is for the use and development of a retirement village as defined by the planning scheme and not any other use. In particular, the use proposed is not better characterised as dwellings or residential village
• The proposed use and development is an acceptable response to both the planning scheme and the Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy. This includes that the site is an acceptable location for the use in context of its location in a Low Density Residential Zone and its physical location in context of the Torquay-Jan Juc settlement
• The built form outcome proposed, when combined with proposed landscaping, is acceptable to its site context. This includes appropriate landscape management that can be further enhanced through permit conditions, and
• The three storey building in the proposal acceptable in its context given its substantial setbacks to any adjoining property and its ability to sit below retained and new tree canopies.

For more, see next week’s edition of the Surf Coast Times.