An artist’s impression of the proposal. The restaurant/cafe on the left is no longer included. Image: Stewart Architecture.
Several changes to a multi-unit mixed-use project at Yarralumla shops won’t appease community members who say the development is too big and out of character with the leafy inner-south suburb.
Early last year, Stewart Architecture and Bloc submitted a development application (DA) for a five-storey building, on the corner of Novar and Bentham streets, described as ‘’smart densification’’ that will also rejuvenate the local centre.
The $12 million proposal offered 14 three-bedroom apartments, with two penthouses set back from the street, and ground-floor commercial tenancies, including a restaurant/cafe, as well as a pool and spa.
Two-storey offices and a surface car park currently occupy the 1667 sqm CZ4-zoned site.
Community submissions on the DA, including a detailed one from the Yarralumla Residents Association, highlighted the height and scale of the proposal not being in keeping with the character of the area.
Insufficient parking, inadequate waste management and the impact of the demolition of the existing building and construction of the new one on the businesses opposite were also raised.
Now the proponents have lodged an amended DA that includes five extra parking places in the basement, another residential waste bin, some changes to the waste management strategy and collection, and the removal of the restaurant use, due to a City Services requirement that all parking must be on site.
But the key issue for the community, the scale of the project, remains.
The proponents argue in the amended DA that the building height aligns with the District Strategies in the Territory Plan, and taller buildings in CZ4 are becoming more common as local centres are redeveloped to increase their vitality and viability, such as Campbell.
They say the Inner South District Strategy highlights Novar Street as a future main active travel route, and the intersection of this with the Yarralumla local centre makes this an important location for medium-density infill development.
“This style of development helps achieve the outcomes for local centres outlined in the Territory Plan, maintaining ground-level commercial uses, encouraging a mix of uses such as opportunity for residential living within the centres, and enhancing environmental amenity through appropriate and sustainable urban design.”
But the opponents say the proposal tries to put too much on the block and fails to take into account the Brickworks and former forestry school developments underway just 200 m away.
There was little room for commercial garbage collection and the 14 residential bins would have to be placed on the kerb outside a neighbouring single residential home to be collected, due to a bus stop bay.
It is understood the restaurant had been used to justify the reduction of ground-floor commercial space below the required 50 per cent.
All three commercial units will now be used for offices.
The proponents say a retail and commercial needs assessment from Colliers shows that the Yarralumla local centre will remain commercially viable after the proposed development.
Submissions also raised overlooking and overshadowing issues, but the proponent says these have been addressed.
Comment on the amended DA is open until 6 February.
