Not happy: Ferntree Gully resident Lynn Brewster wants Knox Council to temporarily halt any multilevel development in the village area. Picture: Ted Kloszynski
A FERNTREE Gully resident has called on Knox Council to help curb multi-level development in the village area.
Lynn Brewster wants the council to place interim planning controls on multi-level developments while a structure plan is developed.
She raised the issue at last week's council meeting after learning of a proposed four-storey development at 44 Station Street in Ferntree Gully Village.
The new application was submitted to the council last week. An earlier proposal was rejected by the council and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2011 because of poor design.
Town planner Michael Dunn of the applicant, Metropol Planning, said the proposal would have three storeys fronting Station Street with a fourth storey fronting Alpine Street and the railway reservation.
If approved, the former service station site would feature four office tenancies, a cafe, restaurant, 38 two-bedroom apartments and a park area.
Mrs Brewster said it was her understanding there were no height restrictions on development in the village.
Mrs Brewster said she had sent several letters to the council about her concerns but hadn't received a response. She believed a two-storey height limit would generally be suitable for the village, but any residential or commercial development on the Station Street site would not.
"It's really, really inappropriate. Not even a two-storey building would be suitable here. It will block the views of the hills," Mrs Brewster said, adding that the village area needed a structure plan like Boronia, but interim controls were necessary while it was discussed and the public was consulted.
"I want to meet with all interested people to come up with a plan of action," Mrs Brewster said. "The general public should have their say on this."
Mr Dunn said the team behind the proposed development took part in an 'ideas exchange' organised by the council to discuss the design of the new building with local community representatives.
"Early design concepts were presented to these representatives a couple of months ago and were warmly received by most," he said.
Knox Council did not respond before deadline to the Weekly's questions.