minutes - City of Stirling

MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL
18 SEPTEMBER 2012
Other potentially permissible uses are simply impractical such as Service
Stations, Motor Vehicle Wash, Motor Vehicle Repair and Motor Vehicle, Boat or
Caravan Sales. In short, whilst under the Scheme there may be multiple “D” (not
permitted unless Council exercises its discretion) or “P” (permitted) uses
applicable to the subject premises, the practical reality is that there are little to no
viable alternatives to the combination of showroom and office uses which Scope
Property Group now proposes.
4. Scope Property Group are commercial property developers intending to market
strata titled units in the refurbished building. They cannot market units as
potential “Convenience Store”/”Medical Centre”/”Fast Food Outlet” when such
uses may not be approved because of a lack of parking, as they do not wish to
engage in any misleading or deceptive advertising.
If someone wished to use the subject premises for such purposes they would
need to make separate application. As the premises are generally unsuited to
showroom use, there are few realistic alternatives for the purposes of marketing
other than to promote the units as office tenancies.
5. In its current form, the development is inconsistent with Scheme Objectives and
Policy positions. Both Council’s Scheme and Policy 4.4 promote a more intense
commercial business development form. However, under the existing use
regime of “Showrooms”, the majority of ground floor units are vacant despite
attempts to secure tenants. This commercial business development is anything
but “intense” under the showroom use regime.
The development will also deliver other Scheme/Policy objectives, achieving a
much higher aesthetic quality, enhancing pedestrian/vehicular safety and
accessibility by deleting an existing crossover as well as enhancing onsite
parking and streetscape appearance through an upgraded building and the
replacement of a crossover with landscaping. Provision will also be made for
bicycle parking and disabled access and amenities will be provided at the site
which otherwise wouldn’t happen if the refurbishment doesn’t proceed.
6. Noting previous comments, it is no accident that the surviving showroom use
(fitness equipment) occupies Unit 1. This business also has use of the
warehouse to the rear of the premises, increasing onsite storage. It also uses
offices above. It therefore occupies a significant floor area, a luxury not available
to other units.
7. As foreshadowed, the proponents are prepared to compromise their original
proposal by retaining Unit 1 as a showroom. They are also prepared to retain
Unit 2 as a showroom even though it will be extremely difficult to secure a tenant
given the shortcomings previously identified.
This will retain a mix of uses at ground floor level including 2 showrooms, a
warehouse and 6 offices.
With regard to development intensity and ground floor activation, the proposed
offices are all glass-fronted and therefore likely to be appealing to office activities
that attract people to the site throughout the day such as estate agents.
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