Plans for a four-storey, 26-dwelling apartment block at 27 Aitken Street in Williamstown have been approved on appeal to the state’s planning tribunal.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal overturned Hobsons Bay council’s refusal to grant a permit to Aitken Properties to demolish the existing single-level industrial building to develop the site. The plans include 30 car and 10 bicycle spaces.
Eighty-one objections had been received by the council, with the main issues relating to neighbourhood character, heritage, height and bulk, parking, traffic, overshadowing, overlooking, noise and internal amenity concerns.
VCAT member Geoffrey Rundell said he was satisfied the building would have “no adverse impacts on the nearby valued heritage dwellings, hotels and the adjoining Stevedore Club”.
He said the proposed building, with a recessed fourth level, would fit into the emerging character of the area.
“In this area, different buildings are to be expected and celebrated,” Mr Rundell said.
“I am satisfied that the proposal would not impose unacceptable amenity impacts on its residential neighbours to the west and south and is not an overdevelopment.”
Mr Rundell said the council had withdrawn its objections about parking and that he was satisfied four visitor spaces was enough.
He was also “satisfied that the traffic volumes will be low”.
It was the second time the proposal had gone before VCAT.
