11 October 2012 - Canterbury City Council

CITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE 11 OCTOBER 2012
INDEPENDENT HEARING AND ASSESSMENT PANEL 3 SEPTEMBER 2012 REPORT (CONT.)
Ms Jacqueline
Parker, Mr Paul
Myer and Mr Ivan
Wong (applicant’s
representatives)
• Residents already experiencing considerable noise from
traffic, people drop off and pick up children and service
delivery vehicles to CASS centre.
• The proposed development will have adverse impact on the
flora and fauna in the area.
• He is concerned that a number of mature street trees which
attract a wide variety of native birds will be cut down if the
proposed development is approved.
• The applicant’s representatives provided information in
relation to questions raised by the Panel.
Panel Assessment
The Panel was generally supportive of the proposal but had reservations about certain
aspects of the site planning, car parking, access and landscape design.
It is considered that the main entry to the hostel component at Level 1 should be
relocated closer to Fifth Avenue adjacent to the proposed small lounge area (the
internal planning would need to be reconfigured accordingly, including the
Staff/Admin location). This would provide a main entry closer to the street and the lift
lobby and avoid conflict with the vehicular entry to the basement carpark.
The walls separating the lounge/dining areas from the lift lobby at each level should be
glazed to provide a through view and to allow more natural light into the lift lobbies.
The Panel agreed with some of the points raised by the objectors including the concern
about tree loss. It is considered that the site planning should be modified to allow the
two liquidambars, jacaranda and silky oak trees to be retained to preserve more of the
existing landscape amenity and encourage bird life.
Provide a canopy over the entry to the administration building for weather protection
and to further define the entry.
A planting strip should be extended for the full length of both side boundaries,
including the length of the garbage bin enclosures to provide foliage screening to the
adjoining properties.
The Panel considered that the through vehicular access way should be a shareway to
ensure that it has barrier free (wheelchair) access and a high quality of pedestrian
amenity and safety for its entire length, to minimise potential conflicts with traffic
movements.
Otherwise the Panel generally accepts the officer’s recommendation and recommends
the application be approved, subject to amendments and additions to conditions
outlined above.
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