REVISED DRAFT NORTH DISTRICT PLAN

The Greater Sydney Commission, under the Greater Sydney Commission Act 2015, is responsible for developing the Region Plan for the Greater Sydney Region and District Plans for all Districts declared in the Greater Sydney Region. The first version of the District Plan was released in November 2016 and Council made a detailed submission on this in March 2017. Further to this in October 2017 the Greater Sydney Commission released the Draft Greater Sydney Region Plan, along with Revised Draft District Plans for public exhibition (refer Attachment 1). District Plans have been developed to ensure well-coordinated, integrated and effective planning for land use, transport and infrastructure.

The Northern Beaches Council is located within the North District Plan (draft Plan). The North District consists of nine (9) Local Government Areas (LGA);

 Northern Beaches

 Hornsby

 Hunter’s Hill

 Ku-ring-gai

 Lane Cove

 Mosman

 North Sydney

 Ryde

 Willoughby

The draft Plan is a 20 year plan to manage growth in line with a 40 year vision and represents the link between regional and local planning. The draft Plan is a more concise and user-friendly document than the first release.

213/17 RESOLVED Cr Regan / Cr Amon

That Council:

A. Identify the need for the open green community space in and around the Frenchs Forest Hospital as a priority.

B. Forward the submission to the Greater Sydney Commission on the Revised Draft North District Plan with the following additions: The State Government recognise the need and ensure reliable road access and high frequency public transport from Palm Beach to the new hospital at Frenchs Forest is provided via the Wakehurst Parkway. This will include addressing flooding issues whilst protecting the natural bushland context.

Insert a new action to “Protect open space and surviving tree canopy to provide relief from high density surrounds and play space for children and adults, regenerating bushland wherever possible”.

Add the following principle to Action 43: “protect heritage of Mona Vale and its low-rise, suburban character”.

N15 Protecting the Health and Enjoyment of Sydney Harbour and the Districts Waterways Edit to statement to read: “Enhancing community access to the coast and waterways within the District, prioritising the foreshores of Sydney Harbour and Pittwater”.

Provide more specific wording to reduce degradation of waterways by: improving water quality by eliminating pollution, reducing weed infestation and exotic fish and other introduced pests, and encourage tree planting to reduce erosion and siltation.

Enhance the actions in relation to N16 Sustainability by:

(a) preserving and enhancing bushland and remnant vegetation, including large pockets, bushland corridors and other reserves, remnant vegetation and urban canopies.

(b) auditing Crown Land and other forest in region to identify all parcels of bushland and remnant vegetation in need of protection.

Enhance the actions in relation to N19 by including an action to undertaken an audit of the existing tree canopy in urban areas to protect existing trees.

Enhance the actions in relation to N22 by including the following actions:

(a) Development of strategy to deal with inundation and retreat from low lying areas.

(b) Development of regulations to increase efficiency of buildings and ability to withstand flooding and bushfires in areas at risk.

Include in response to Action N3 Open Space, Sport and Recreation:

(a) This agreement will not lead to school space being used as substitute for other public green space in the council area. In reference to the agreement between Northern Beaches Council and the Department of Education and Communities for opportunities for shared use.

VOTING FOR: Crs Amon, Bingham, Daley, De Luca, Ferguson, Grattan, Harrison, Heins, Philpott, Regan, Sprott, Walton, Warren and White

AGAINST: Cr McTaggart

CARRIED

#Environment #TownPlanning

PLANNING PROPOSAL AT 323-327 WARRINGAH ROAD, FRENCHS FOREST

On 24 October 2017, Council received a Planning Proposal prepared by Mark Shanahan Planning Pty Ltd on behalf of the Applicant, Brent Mulligan (Neilstreet Pty Ltd). The Proposal seeks to amend WLEP 2011 to allow boarding houses as an additional permitted use and apply a maximum building height of 40 metres at 323-327 Warringah Road, Frenchs Forest (also known as 14 Rodborough Road, Frenchs Forest). The Proposal is accompanied by indicative concept plans and an intent to submit a VPA which would specify a range of public benefits, including the provision of the boarding rooms as affordable rental housing, to be managed by a registered community housing provider.

200/17 RESOLVED Cr Regan / Cr Harrison

That Council reject the Planning Proposal lodged for 323-327 Warringah Road, Frenchs Forest and not submit it to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for a Gateway Determination for the following reasons:

A. The Proposal is inconsistent with strategic planning direction for Frenchs Forest established by A Plan for Growing Sydney, Draft Greater Sydney Region Plan and Revised Draft North District Plan.

B. The Proposal is inconsistent with Council’s Northern Beaches Hospital Precinct Structure Plan.

C. The Planning Proposal has not demonstrated strategic merit or site-specific merit in line with the NSW Planning and Environment’s Planning Proposals: A guide to preparing planning proposals (2016).

D. The Planning Proposal is inconsistent with Local Planning Directions:

a. 1.1 Business and Industrial Zones.

b. 3.4 Integrating Land Use and Transport.

c. 5.10 Implementation of Regional Plans.

d. 6.3 Site Specific Provisions.

e. 7.1 Implementation of A Plan for Growing Sydney.

E. The outcome of the Planning Proposal is not considered an appropriate development outcome because:

a. The Proposal will increase delays and congestion on the traffic and transport network and no traffic modelling has been undertaken to quantify the full extent of traffic impacts on the local and regional network. Further, Roads and Maritime Services have previously advised that any growth east of Wakehurst Parkway will not be supported (by Roads and Maritime Services).

b. The Proposal will compromise the existing strategic advantage of the Frenchs Forest Business Park and the future flexibility of surrounding businesses to respond to economic opportunities. In particular, innovative health and medical related commercial premises to support the Northern Beaches Hospital. This could also impact on the ability for Frenchs Forest to grow as a Strategic Centre and achieve the target of 12,000 to 13,000 jobs by 2036. c. The subject site’s location has the potential to affect the amenity of future residents and the surrounding locality. This includes safety concerns associated with the walkability of routes from the subject site to the Northern Beaches Hospital, low amenity due to the subject site’s location away from public spaces and services, noise concerns and hours of operation of surrounding commercial and industrial uses and impacts to residents of the surrounding locality, particularly with traffic associated with the proposed use.

F. The Proposal will set a precedent, increasing pressure to allow other sites in the B7 Business Park zone to be redeveloped for ‘boarding houses’ or other non-conforming residential uses, when more appropriate locations have been identified within Frenchs Forest. In addition, the Proposal could also set an unwanted precedent for planning proposals to be lodged which are inconsistent with Council’s Northern Beaches Hospital Precinct Structure Plan. If this occurs, this will undermine the strategic intent and vision for Frenchs Forest. Ad hoc Planning Proposals undermine the orderly planning process and Council’s ability to deliver the required infrastructure.

G. The information submitted to support the Planning Proposal is substantially deficient to allow for an informed assessment of the Planning Proposal in regards to traffic matters, infrastructure upgrades, economic, social and environmental impacts.

RESOLVED BY EXCEPTION

#FrenchsForestWard #TownPlanning #PlanningProposal

ECO SCHOOL GRANTS - Notice of Motion

Clr Roslyn Harrison spoke on the importance of educating our youth and partnering with schools bring our Environmental priorities a new look in our local schools.

11.2 NOTICE OF MOTION NO 12/2017 - INTRODUCTION OF "ECO-SCHOOL" GRANTS 214/17

RESOLVED Cr Harrison / Cr Ferguson

That Council:

A. Introduce a category of “Eco-Schools” as part of the annual Community & Cultural Small Grants Program.

B. Develop and distribute information for local schools summarising Council’s environmental priorities to give ideas to schools and encourage stronger Council-school partnerships.

C. Brief Councillors on the criteria for Eco-Schools funding before the Community & Cultural Small Grants Program opens.

VOTING FOR: Crs Bingham, De Luca, Ferguson, Grattan, Harrison, Heins, McTaggart, Philpott, Regan, Sprott, Walton, Warren and White

AGAINST: Crs Amon and Daley

CARRIED

#ClrHarrison #NoM