A proposal to develop a low-rise commercial complex next to two local heritage sites has been submitted for assessment.
The plans for the vacant 3533sqm block at 19 Stevens Street, Yandina, include five commercial tenancies and a gym.
The site adjoins the Yandina School of Arts and All Saints Anglican Church, both of which are identified on the heritage overlay of Sunshine Coast Council’s planning scheme.
A town planning report by Alan Holliday Pty Ltd for applicant GJ and MR Pty Ltd says the five commercial spaces could operate as shops, offices or healthcare services.
Their individual gross floor areas would range from 94sqm to 133sqm, totalling 558sqm of commercial space, while the gym would cover 394sqm.
The development would be constructed in three stages, each of which would be able to function independently in terms of access and parking. Stage one would be the gym; stage two would include three commercial tenancies; and stage three would be the final two tenancies.
The single-storey buildings would reach a maximum height of 6.5m – below the 12m height limit allowed under the Local Centre Zone of the Yandina Local Plan Area.
“The relatively low building profile will not obscure or dominate the backdrop of the built form of the adjoining local heritage place, which is a dominant streetscape element,” the report says.
The plans include 50 car parking spaces.
“The design, scale and built form of the proposed development is compatible with the key character elements of the commercial area of central Yandina,” the report states.
“Visual interest and amenity will be created with traditional built forms, building materials and external colour schemes to complement the built form of the adjoining Yandina School of Arts and the township centre generally.”
The site has been the subject of several previous development concepts. An earlier version proposed a mixed-use project that included residential components, but the owners removed the housing element in the revised plans. Another iteration included a car wash, which has since been replaced by three commercial tenancies in the current design.
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The council’s list of local heritage places says the All Saints church was built in 1881.
“It was the first church built in the former Maroochy Shire and its construction in Yandina, which was located on the road to Gympie, marked the town as the principal settlement in the former shire at the time,” it says.
The school of arts, meanwhile, was opened in 1916.
“Schools of arts provided a local library for subscribers before libraries were managed by local councils (generally from the 1960s),” it states.
“The building also performed a variety of public functions, including public and organisational meetings (for example, the Country Women’s Association), lectures, concerts, balls and dances, and showing movies.
“Prior to the building of the school of arts, the only public hall in Yandina was privately owned – the Excelsior Hall, which was located behind the hotel.”
The application for a material change of use and operational works is code assessable. It also requires assessment by the State Assessment and Referral Agency because the land sits within 25m of the state-controlled Farrell Street.
