By Catherine Watson
PLANS for a four-storey, 22-apartment building on the Cowes Esplanade were knocked back at Wednesday’s council meeting despite an officer’s report recommending that approval be granted.
PLANS for a four-storey, 22-apartment building on the Cowes Esplanade were knocked back at Wednesday’s council meeting despite an officer’s report recommending that approval be granted.
Moving an alternative motion to refuse the application, Cr Stephen Fullarton said he had serious concerns with the proposed development on a 1130-square-metre block at 19 The Esplanade.
The application attracted 10 objections, most related to the density of the development, the height and the proposal to reduce the number of car parks required from two per unit plus four visitor parking spaces to a total of 34.
Cr Fullarton said the development, on prime real estate overlooking the Cowes foreshore, was two doors from a six-unit development with 11 car spaces and next door to five units with 18-19 car spaces.
“The three-bedroom apartments have three spaces each and there is visitor parking. To suddenly have a similar development with 22 apartments and 34 spaces is a gross over-development. It’s too dense and it’s wrong.”
Cr Julian Brown agreed that density was a problem. “The number of apartments is out of line with the surrounding buildings. In my opinion there should be no reduction of car spaces.”
Cr Geoff Ellis supported the comments. “However, I need to point out that if we want to maintain the town boundaries we need to consider higher density.”
Cr Whelan described the Esplanade as “the sweet spot of the town and we have to protect it”.
He said he also had concerns about the density but the market would determine whether the units were saleable.
“If we stop the spatial expansion we need to go higher density. But I’m somewhat snookered by the fact that there’s a bit more density than I had envisaged.”
VOTE
To refuse the application for a four-storey 22-unit development at 19 The Esplanade
Won 6-3
The application attracted 10 objections, most related to the density of the development, the height and the proposal to reduce the number of car parks required from two per unit plus four visitor parking spaces to a total of 34.
Cr Fullarton said the development, on prime real estate overlooking the Cowes foreshore, was two doors from a six-unit development with 11 car spaces and next door to five units with 18-19 car spaces.
“The three-bedroom apartments have three spaces each and there is visitor parking. To suddenly have a similar development with 22 apartments and 34 spaces is a gross over-development. It’s too dense and it’s wrong.”
Cr Julian Brown agreed that density was a problem. “The number of apartments is out of line with the surrounding buildings. In my opinion there should be no reduction of car spaces.”
Cr Geoff Ellis supported the comments. “However, I need to point out that if we want to maintain the town boundaries we need to consider higher density.”
Cr Whelan described the Esplanade as “the sweet spot of the town and we have to protect it”.
He said he also had concerns about the density but the market would determine whether the units were saleable.
“If we stop the spatial expansion we need to go higher density. But I’m somewhat snookered by the fact that there’s a bit more density than I had envisaged.”
VOTE
To refuse the application for a four-storey 22-unit development at 19 The Esplanade
Won 6-3
- For: Crs Le Serve, Rothfield, Tessari, Brown, Fullarton and Ellis.
- Against: Crs Larke, Whelan and Kent
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