21 August 2019

Planning authority draws line in Molonglo with another oversized development canned

| Ian Bushnell
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A render of the Luxe development. The changes were not enough.

Another big apartment development proposal in the Molonglo Valley has been thrown out for a second time, with 3 Property Group’s Luxe project again found to be too big for the site.

3 Property Group had wanted to more than double the number of dwellings at present allowed on the site, on the corner of John Gorton Drive and Opperman Avenue in Wright.

The $58 million proposal sought to increase the permissible number of dwellings on the land from 107 to 244 – a seven-storey building with 212 apartments, and 32 two-storey townhouses.

The proponents scaled it back slightly after its first rejection, losing two of the townhouses, providing a new townhouse façade design, resiting of the townhouses to improve visual amenity, a bigger community open space area with additional landscaping and a shared zone for residents and vehicles.

A render of the internal open space at Luxe.

But the planning authority in its Reconsideration Notice of Decision said the yield was still excessive and the building a storey too high.

There was a lack of room for deep-rooted trees, particularly along the streetscape, poor frontages, a lack of amenity, limited pedestrian access and not enough sunlight.

The rejection follows the recent knockback of POD Project Group’s revised proposal for a 107-unit development in Coombs and Pelle Projects’ and PK Nominees’ Koko development in Wright, and shows the planning authority is insisting developers stick to the rules.

“That’s about as strong a message as could be sent,” community advocate Ryan Hemsley said.

The other Molonglo development which the planning authority sent packing, the 212-unit Zapari project in Coombs, is yet to produce its Reconsideration request but it is understood the proponent received an extension.

 

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