Mayor’s nod to units

KNOX City councillors were divided in their decision on an application for a multi-unit development in Boronia, leaving mayor Jim Penna with the deciding vote.
Four councillors voted against the construction of five single-storey units on a site in Falconer Road at their 26 February meeting.
Councillor Mick Van de Vreede said there were too many negative aspects to the development.
He said the development was not in a preferred location under the council’s housing strategy, featured only three bedroom dwellings, which did not support diversity in housing, and was poorly serviced by public transport.
Cr Adam Gill said the number of units was not appropriate outside of an activity centre but Cr Monique Davey said the development was in an appropriate area.
She said she would hate to see the plans turned down because of poor public transport only to regret the decision when transport was eventually provided.
Mayor Jim Penna said he was ‘somewhat divided’ in his views on the development but voted in favour of it because of the character of the immediate neighbourhood.
Cr Penna said the current site had one of the few remaining single houses in the street.
On another planning application, councillors were unanimous in their decision to deny a permit for the construction of four single-storey dwellings in Valerie Street, Boronia.
Cr Van de Vreede said the development was again inconsistent with council housing policy and was in an area with poor public transport.
Cr Davey said there were positive and negative aspects to the proposal. She said she was tempted to allow the development because she hoped it would lead to improvements to public transport services which the council had often asked the Government for. “We keep knocking and no one answers,” she said.
Cr Gill said councillors needed to be consistent in its decision making and approve high density development only in areas that meet council criteria and were in or near activity centres.
“This is not where we want it,” he said.