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 lodged the appeal with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal late last month.
An application to divide the land at 157-173 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 property for a number of years.
He said they made the decision to appeal because they believed the new application had followed advice the 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.
The owners had also decided to appeal because they had the support of the majority of the immediately affected home owners. "There is no question that we had strong support from the local community. Only 16 households objected to the plans."
But Friends of Glenfern Green Wedge spokeswoman Johanna Selleck said the group would defend the council's decision at the VCAT.
Dr Selleck said the VCAT was an "unknown factor" and there was no way of knowing what decision it would make. The group is still approaching potential donors to buy the land.
A date for the VCAT hearing is expected by the end of the month.
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