Building hight cap approved

By CASEY NEILL
HEIGHT restrictions should soon apply to Ferntree Gully Village developments following a Knox City Council motion last Tuesday.
On 21 August the Mail reported that residents wanted a high-rise proposed for 44 Station Street stopped because it would destroy views of the hills.
Graham Crichton was leading the charge for a decision on the four-storey building to be delayed until a structure plan guiding development for the area – particularly height and density guidelines – was in place.
He said such towering projects would obliterate views for future generations and “’signal the end of the village atmosphere’”.
“There will be development, no doubt about that,” he said.
“But it needs to be in context with the environment it’s part of.”
Dobson Ward councillor Sue McMillan agreed and at the council’s 28 August meeting moved a motion to temporarily cap heights at 7.5 metres until a structure plan was created next year.
Councillors unanimously passed the plan and agreed to ask Planning Minister Matthew Guy to approve it for the Knox Planning Scheme as a matter of urgency.
“There was a lot of action from the local traders and residents and they were very concerned about the higher development applications moving into the Ferntree Gully area,” Cr McMillan said.
“It’s really difficult to manage change in what’s been a very traditional, sleepy hollow.
“It does need regeneration but it needs to be appropriate and in line with what’s there.
She said the move would provide breathing space until community consultation could take place to inform the structure plan and set out long term goals for the area.
“We’d be shutting the gate after the horse has bolted if we didn’t have the interim measure,” she said.
“It gives any applicants and developers an indication of where council stands.”
Cr McMillan said Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling had vowed to lobby the Planning Minister to enshrine the measure in law. It would then apply to any current and future applications.
“Hence the urgency,” she said.
More than 1000 people signed a petition against the 44 Station Street proposal, with the height a particular issue.
Mr Wakeling had advised the council that could establish interim controls to support appropriate development.
“If council seeks to take this action, the Coalition Government will consider a sensible request from council should it be made in a timely manner,” he said.