By Goya Dmytryshchak
Community fears have been raised about a 16-dwelling, four-storey development with three shops proposed for a site opposite Williamstown Town Hall.
Noordenne Constructions has applied for a permit from Hobsons Bay council to build a $4.7million development on the corner of Ferguson and Lyons streets.
The company is seeking a reduction in carparking requirements and a waiver of loading and unloading requirements.
Hobsons Bay strategic development director Natalie Walker said about 20 objections had been received.
“The major issues raised in objections relate to things like urban character, building height and, in particular, traffic and carparking impacts,” she said.
Engineering consultants Cardno have prepared a traffic and transport assessment for the developer.
Noordenne is proposing 23 parking spaces – three for shops, none for the one-bedroom apartments and three for residential visitors.
This equates to a shortfall of 26 spaces from planning scheme requirements.
Cardno’s report states that it conducted traffic surveys in the area on two days.
It states that during its Wednesday survey, within a radius of 300 metres, between 85 and 116 spaces out of about 217 were vacant. During its Saturday survey, between 120 and 191 spaces out of 224 were vacant.
Cr Peter Hemphill told last week’s council meeting there were concerns about lack of parking in the area and he was sceptical about the developer’s parking assessment.
“We have a habit on this council to accept … the developer’s ‘hired gun’, I’d call them, and we don’t do our independent study,” he said.
“Can I ask whether we will get a more rigorous parking assessment and independent one in relation to this development?”
The meeting was told that the council had engaged an independent consultant to do its own assessment of traffic and parking in the area surrounding the site.
, with many able-bodied people parking in disabled spots at a nearby supermarket
