THE owners of the Glenfern green wedge have officially lodged an appeal against Knox Council’s decision to refuse a subdivision permit for the site.
Landowner Andrew Peterson confirmed to the Weekly the four owners had lodged the appeal with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal late last week.
An application to divide the land at 157-173 at Glenfern Road, Upper Ferntree Gully into five lots was rejected at a council meeting last month.
Despite a recommendation by the council’s planning officer that a permit be issued, councillors were split four-four on the decision, with mayor Adam Gill having to exercise his casting vote to break the deadlock, resulting in the permit being denied.
Mr Peterson previously said the owners had a number of options including selling the land in its current two lots or sitting on the land for a number of years.
He said they made the decision to appeal because they believed the new application had followed the advice VCAT provided during the last appeal earlier this year.
‘‘VCAT gave us clear direction, we followed directions and this was confirmed by the council officers who recommended the permit be approved,’’ Mr Peterson said.
He said they had also made the decision to appeal because they had the support of the majority of the immediately affected homeowners.
‘‘There is no question that we had strong support from the local community. Only 16 households objected to the plans.’’
A date for the hearing is expected by the end of next month.
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