The meeting commenced at 4pm and was scheduled to finish at 6pm with approximately 150 people attending. The first 50 minutes were taken up by presentations from the Northern Beaches Council Administrator Dick Persson, General Manager Mark Ferguson, with further presentations from Council staff in what appeared to be an attempt to win the community over with the Place Plan. An interesting admission made by the Council Executive Manager of Place Planning Mick Darda was that during all community consultation there was not any discussion about 6 storey buildings for Mona Vale and this was derived at entirely by Council Staff later on.
Then there was a 5 minute presentation from Marcia Rackham the president of the Mona Vale Residents Association who said the Mona Vale Place plan was not representing what the community asked for during consultation especially 6 storey buildings. Following this Simon Dunn president of the Mona Vale Chamber of Commerce made comments on behalf of their members. At approximately the 1 hr and 20 minute point into the 2 hour meeting red and green numbered cards were handed out to people who wished to ask questions. This soon turned out to be more of speech making rather than questions, as people were very concerned about many aspects of the Place Plan especially 6 storey buildings. At one point the Northern Beaches Council administrator Dick Persson asked the meeting would you then support the Place Plan for building height if it were 5 storey and nobody put their hands up. He then asked would you support the Place Plan if it was 4 storeys (which is the current maximum limit) and nearly every raised their hands. Sensing there was far more people wanting the make comments than time permitted Mr. Persson asked would everybody be ok if we went past the 6pm finish, nobody objected. There were approximately 30 people who requested numbered cards and addressed the meeting with varied comments. People spoke on Affordable Housing with one valid point being made that this only provides rented accommodation and does not include people on low incomes to purchase any properties. Previous Pittwater Councillor Lynne Czinner made the point that the plan will provide for in excess of 330 new apartments with a net gain of only 150 new car spaces in Mona Vale. Concerns were raised about narrowing Pittwater Road between Bungan Street and the intersection with Barrenjoey Road from 4 lanes to 2 and taking away all the angled parking on the northern side. Traffic would then be directed east along Darley Street at the intersection with Pittwater Road. Concerns were raised about this also. One speaker was upset that Mona Vale Memorial Hall would be demolished as it has its 50th Birthday coming up soon and has much history and charm. Concern also was if it is demolished then what future venue can be provided. Another raised concern so many more people living in the heart of the Mona Vale Commercial Core and where will they and their visitors all park, the increased traffic congestion and with the centre excluding more cars to be more people friendly will impact on traffic flow around the centre. This concern was also exacerbated with Mr. Andrew Pigott Manager Planning and Assessment Northern Beaches Council – Pittwater saying earlier that instead of the current 1 car space per 1 bedroom apartment and 2 cars spaces for 2 or more bedrooms may change to no car spaces for 1 bedroom and only 1 car space for 2 or more bedrooms. More comments came on affordable housing with a reply from council saying policy will be 10% of new dwellings will be affordable but this will provide only 33 apartments and it is nowhere near enough to satisfy the argument that we need affordable housing for nurses, fire and police workers. It is understood the affordable housing provision also only has to last 10 years, which from that point on it can revert back to current market value accommodation. Another speaker said council received over 1300 comments and submissions during the consultation period leading up to the Draft Plan being released and it appears Council have not listened to many of those comments with this Draft Plan. The question was will it be a waste of her time even considering sitting down in front of her computer making any further comments as decisions might have already been made by the council. One person made the point that the current 13 metre height limit in Mona Vale Commercial Core allowed 4 storey buildings and the proposed increase to 23 metres would actually permit 7 storeys. A second point was that the administrator who lives in the Eastern suburbs should not be making any decisions on the Place Plan and it should be left to the local representation of newly Elected Councillors in September 2017 to which there was an overwhelming applause of support from the public gallery. One speaker stated that infrastructure was not adequate for the population growth the council is seeking and that already granny flats (secondary dwellings) are taking over so many backyards now and usually have a 2 cars associated with the extra dwelling with no where to park except on the street. Gavin Butler president of the Newport Residents Association questioned whether the Greater Sydney Commission would mandate all Local Environment Plans (LEP’s) across the peninsula. Mr. Andrew Pigott Manager Planning and Assessment Northern Beaches Council – Pittwater replied saying there is no likely hood of this in the foreseeable future for Mona Vale, Newport or Avalon if that is your concern. The last resident said she lives in Golf Avenue and is very concerned about the increase in night life with more small bars and live entertainment the Council is wanting as it is a major problem in her street with the Mona Vale Hotel on the corner with noise and increasing the number of after dark venues with late closing will only add to the current noise and vandalism problem that already exists. Overall the outcome from the meeting appeared there was little if any support for the Draft Mona Vale Place Plan, in it’s current form. The meeting concluded at 6.30pm with what appeared to be everyone who wanted to have a say was given that opportunity. The administrator Dick Persson having observed the high level of concern from the community regarding the Mona Vale Place Plan said he would now extend the public exhibition period for another month. This will now be extended from previous close date of 13 November 2016 to close 13 December 2016 to give people more time for submissions. Also see Mona Vale Residents Association press release at http://savemonavale.weebly.com/mona-vale-residents-association-press-release
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