Lifestyle's proposed Cowes village, with a maximum of256 units and five small parks.
By Catherine Watson
WHAT a difference two months make. At their August meeting, Bass Coast councillors voted 5-4 to refuse a permit for a 277-unit Lifestyle Residential Village in Cowes.
Cr Ron Bauer described it as an ambit application and he might have been right because Lifestyle quickly returned with a modified proposal.
At this week’s meeting councillors unanimously – and quickly – approved their application for a village incorporating no more than 256 units.
WHAT a difference two months make. At their August meeting, Bass Coast councillors voted 5-4 to refuse a permit for a 277-unit Lifestyle Residential Village in Cowes.
Cr Ron Bauer described it as an ambit application and he might have been right because Lifestyle quickly returned with a modified proposal.
At this week’s meeting councillors unanimously – and quickly – approved their application for a village incorporating no more than 256 units.
Version 2 also includes five miniature parks throughout the village and a larger park area that can be used flexibly in response to changing community needs.
At the August meeting, Cr Rochelle Halstead described the proposed development of 277 Unregistered Moveable Dwellings (UMDs) as a “glorified trailer park”.
This time round she was much kinder, having in the meantime toured Lifestyle’s Clyde North village, along with Cr Ron Bauer.
“II spoke with and witnessed residents enjoying the facilities,” Cr Halstead said. “The village felt safe, well designed and well maintained with residents looking relaxed. Most warming was their interaction with one another.
“The clubhouse was impressive, offering a large meeting spaces and an impressive array of recreational activities.”
“Bass Coast needs housing diversity and with the applicant’s willingness to work with council to negotiate a better outcome I’m satisfied my initial concerns have been addressed.”
The applicant estimates a development cost of $14m for works which require planning permission. Units will be constructed off site and transported to the village, with a total value of around $150 million.
The new application includes 23 different designs for moveable dwellings. Lifestyle residential villages are marketed with the tagline “Own the dwelling, lease the land,” which supposedly keeps prices down.
The planning officer’s report noted that while the individual units were not particularly sustainable other aspects of the village are.
The 12 hectare site, on multiple titles, has road frontages to Settlement Road, Justice Road and Church Street.
There were 15 objections to the new application, but none was considered substantive.
The officer’s report recommended the council approve the new application on four main grounds.
• The proposal provides for diversity in the housing stock providing for independent dwelling style accommodation in a village community.
• With appropriate conditions the gated community will provide for a range of communal services appropriate to a flexible occupancy and not impose an unreasonable load upon existing council services.
• The proposal minimizes the loss of indigenous vegetation on existing streets. Substantially more would be removed for a conventional subdivision.
• The applicant will provide for the construction of public footpaths between the site and the foreshore and from the site along Church Street.
Cr David Rooks said the proposed development would clearly meet a need within Bass Coast’s ageing population
At the August meeting, Cr Rochelle Halstead described the proposed development of 277 Unregistered Moveable Dwellings (UMDs) as a “glorified trailer park”.
This time round she was much kinder, having in the meantime toured Lifestyle’s Clyde North village, along with Cr Ron Bauer.
“II spoke with and witnessed residents enjoying the facilities,” Cr Halstead said. “The village felt safe, well designed and well maintained with residents looking relaxed. Most warming was their interaction with one another.
“The clubhouse was impressive, offering a large meeting spaces and an impressive array of recreational activities.”
“Bass Coast needs housing diversity and with the applicant’s willingness to work with council to negotiate a better outcome I’m satisfied my initial concerns have been addressed.”
The applicant estimates a development cost of $14m for works which require planning permission. Units will be constructed off site and transported to the village, with a total value of around $150 million.
The new application includes 23 different designs for moveable dwellings. Lifestyle residential villages are marketed with the tagline “Own the dwelling, lease the land,” which supposedly keeps prices down.
The planning officer’s report noted that while the individual units were not particularly sustainable other aspects of the village are.
The 12 hectare site, on multiple titles, has road frontages to Settlement Road, Justice Road and Church Street.
There were 15 objections to the new application, but none was considered substantive.
The officer’s report recommended the council approve the new application on four main grounds.
• The proposal provides for diversity in the housing stock providing for independent dwelling style accommodation in a village community.
• With appropriate conditions the gated community will provide for a range of communal services appropriate to a flexible occupancy and not impose an unreasonable load upon existing council services.
• The proposal minimizes the loss of indigenous vegetation on existing streets. Substantially more would be removed for a conventional subdivision.
• The applicant will provide for the construction of public footpaths between the site and the foreshore and from the site along Church Street.
Cr David Rooks said the proposed development would clearly meet a need within Bass Coast’s ageing population