Shire set to grow – up

By MARA PATTISON-SOWDEN
RESIDENTS are set to see taller buildings across the shire after councillors approved a policy to guide the Yarra Ranges’ development for the next 20 years.
Town centres in Yarra Junction and Healesville and along the Belgrave train line will become high density, with developers able to build up to three storeys high.
The minimum lot size will also decrease to allow subdivisions as small as 300 square metres.
But areas around Coldstream, Mount Evelyn, Yarra Glen, Silvan and towns along the Warburton Highway will have their growth halted in keeping with neighbourhood characteristics.
Councillors passed the C97 Housing Amendment, which must still be signed off by the Planning Minister, at last Tuesday’s 24 April council meeting.
Although the council heard from five submitters during the meeting including town planners Miller Merrigan, much of the discussion revolved around changes from councillors wanting to reduce height restrictions.
Cr Richard Higgins admitted he wanted to lower the maximum height allowance so two or three-storey buildings wouldn’t shadow his single-storey house.
While Cr Len Cox said there needed to be permit controls over three-storey housing as applications were “getting to be ridiculous”.
“You don’t want these very tall buildings stuck in amongst them, overshadowing a neighbour next door and changing the whole look for the suburb,” he said.
“Residents need to have ability to live life in house without someone building towering house overhead.”
Both councillors had their changes rejected by the majority.
Councillor Samantha Dunn said the amendment quite specifically dealt with only the residential land in the Shire.
“I think the fact that we do have a major rail transport corridor makes it diff to reject any change in those areas,” she said, talking about her areas in Belgrave, Tecoma and Upwey.
“Ultimately it’s only a small amount of land…which is a reasonable outcome for my area.”
Town planner Simon Merrigan told councillors he doubted the newly adopted housing policy would be passed by the state government, which would cause uncertainty and confusion for people wanting to develop their land.
“We’re going into a limbo period as council adopts this, and my view is that the state government won’t allow mandatory provisions in this format to go through so I think you’ll get put back to the drawing board,” he said.
Councillors overall spoke positively on the policy that Cr Terry Avery described as a “balanced and sustainable approach” to housing in the Yarra Ranges.
The C97 Housing Amendment is available to be viewed on the Yarra Ranges Council website.