A 116-unit apartment complex by a lake has been approved after strong public opposition prompted the developer to revise its design.
The multi-block, four-storey complex is set to be built within Sunshine Cove at Maroochydore, after Living Choice Australia made key changes to its size and scope.
The precinct, to be located on an 8178sqm block on Sunrise Drive within Sunshine Cove at Maroochydore, was approved with conditions by Sunshine Coast Council at its meeting on Thursday.
Eight councillors voted unanimously in favour of it, while three declared conflicts of interest and did not vote.
The Sunrise Drive precinct is set to include units with one to four bedrooms, 184 car parks, 177 bicycle spaces, a large central atrium, artificial grass, a recreation room, landscaped areas and an outdoor recreation area with two pools and barbecues.
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The original proposal was met with 78 objections from 85 submissions during the community consultation phase.
They signalled potential issues with building height, density, design, setbacks, parking, traffic, active transport infrastructure and more.
In response, Living Choice Australia made some changes the proposal, including reducing the number of units from 124, reducing the height from more 16.26m to a maximum of 15m and increasing setbacks.
The council’s executive summary stated that the proposal still exceeded density provisions and did not meet specified parking measures, but essentially said it would suit the area.
“The layout, scale, form and character of the proposed development will be in keeping with the desired character of the locality and will contribute to making the adjacent streets more attractive, interesting and safe,” it stated.
“Separation in building form allows space between units, provides opportunity for landscaping, views, breezes, and promotes a lighter, more open building form suitable for the Sunshine Coast environment.
“Although there is a shortfall of four parking spaces on-site, the development will undertake frontage works resulting in 10 additional on-street parking spaces on Somerton Drive, improving the existing parking options for the local community.”
Meanwhile, setbacks intrude on three of the five sides of the property but council’s urban design specialist advised that they are suitable for each of the road frontages.
The detailed officer’s report concluded that the proposed development “complies with the applicable planning scheme and does not raise any significant issues that cannot be addressed by reasonable and relevant conditions.”
Very few submissions have been made by the public since the developer made changes to its proposal.
Mayor Rosanna Natoli and Councillor Joe Natoli notified the council of declarable conflicts of interest, after a submitter took part in the mayor’s election campaign and may have handed out how-to-vote cards for Cr Natoli.
Councillor Taylor Bunnag also notified the council of a prescribed conflict of interest after he made a written submission to council objecting to the development application, before he was elected to council. They were not involved in the vote.
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
