A DEVELOPER’S plea has persuaded councillors to change conditions on a planned housing estate on Box Hill Drive.
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The development plan was given the nod by Armidale Dumaresq Council in September, with a number of caveats.
But developer Peter McCook of Horizon Asset Management was unhappy with those stipulations, including the requirement to extend and seal 20 metres of the road into the planned estate.
Because the new estate was to use a yet-to-be completed road for access to properties, the developer reasoned there was no need to lengthen Box Hill Drive.
The developer went to Council’s director of planning and environmental services Greg Meyers, who altered the approval.
“Some of those conditions were onerous,” Mr Meyers said yesterday.
“They would have had to extend that up 20 metres [but now] if the other road is built they don’t need to that.
“It certainly was unreasonable with the cost of that road upgrade, it wouldn’t have been worth doing.”
Mr Meyers negotiated with the developer to produce the final agreement, which stipulates 44 construction conditions, and presented it for councillors’ approval at last Monday’s Council meeting.
During the meeting, Greg Moin spoke on behalf of Mr McCook, asking councillors to approve an amended development application.
Councillors unanimously endorsed the project.
Despite having cleared development approval hurdle, Horizon Asset Management is still facing a number of hoops to jump through before new residents move in.
Construction and vegetation clearing on the lots will be confined to “designated building envelopes”, with clear limitations placed on developers to maintain the current ecological environment on the property.
“No trees dead or alive are to be removed from outside the approved building envelope in order to provide habitat-hollows for native species,” the report said.
“Compensatory plantings are to be undertaken at the ratio of two saplings for every tree removed.”
Future residents will also be forced to do their bit for the native animals in the area, particularly the koala population.
“Dogs are to be contained at all times within the fenced yard around the dwelling and are only permitted outside of this area under strict supervision,” the report said.