The first 208 of almost 1500 new dwellings would be built on the site of the former Kinnears rope factory in Footscray under a proposal facing a Maribyrnong Council vote next Tuesday night.
A planning application has been lodged for the $63 million first stage of the 3.3 hectare Kinnears Precinct Development Plan at 124-188 Ballarat Road.
Approval is sought for Stage 1B of the plan, which comprises a three storey podium along each of the street interfaces, topped by connected 15, 12 and 8 storey towers, containing 208 dwellings, 539 square metres of retail space and 177 on- site car spaces.
The proposal includes the construction of a new road, ‘Dougie Hawkins Parade’ linking Ballarat Road to Kinnear Street.
The 208 dwellings would be comprised of 55 one bedroom, 142 two bedroom and 11 three bedroom dwellings.
The plans provide for 177 car parking spaces, eight motorbike spaces and 143 bicycles spaces.
The design also seeks to reference the former rope works with an intricate pattern on the façade.
A council staff report on the proposal states that the overall layout, form, heights, setbacks and uses generally fit into the building envelopes under the approved development plan.
“The proposal has strong State and Local policy support, being located in a substantial change area defined as a site-specific strategic redevelopment site.”
“Subject to conditions… the proposal is considered to be generally in accordance with the approved DP and is consistent with the relevant provisions of the Maribyrnong Planning Scheme.”
Recommended conditions for approval include a doubling of three-bedroom dwellings to 10 per cent, a requirement that 5 per cent of all dwellings within Stage 1B be designated as affordable or social housing, and a requirement for all balconies to have a minimum area of 8 square metres.
As the proposal is in keeping with an approved development plan, it is exempt from advertising and cannot be appealed to VCAT.
