Read: Boutique Shoptop Development Proposed for Collaroy Amidst Local Concerns

Planning authorities have received a significant number of submissions after the details of the proposed apartment block on the Northern Beaches were put on public exhibition from the 6th of May to the 3rd of June 2024.

The development application (DA2023/1395) outlines plans for a four-storey building with three shopfronts at street level, situated at the intersection of Pittwater Rd and Ocean Grove. The current buildings on the site, which include a surf shop and a kitchen business, would be demolished if the plans are approved.

The development includes 29 carparking spaces for residents, five spaces for residential visitors, and 19 spots for the retailers. Additionally, a communal open space is proposed for the roof, featuring lift access and a covered outdoor area concealed behind planter-boxes and screen plantings. The design aims to reduce the bulk and scale of the Pittwater Rd facade by alternating solid and transparent building forms, using weatherboards in contrasting cool grey and blue colours for the solid parts and steel-framed wintergardens with glass louvre infill for the transparent parts.

The proposed development has raised various concerns among local residents. 

 Roberta Connaghan, a local resident for five years, highlighted the increased difficulty in enjoying the area due to a surge in visitors, especially since the pandemic. She pointed out that local children cannot ride their bikes unsupervised due to safety concerns. The parking situation has worsened, with residents often unable to find parking near their homes, leading to significant inconvenience. 

Ms Connaghan noted that the proposal would introduce many new residents into the area, which she deemed untenable given the current low-density buildings. The proposal would also create a cut-through on Anzac Avenue and Cliff Road, impacting local traffic and safety. She questioned the balance between the need for local housing and the impact on existing community members and visitors.

Anthony Haines, another resident, has formally objected to the proposed development on Pittwater Road, citing several concerns. He argues that the proposed height exceeds the allowed limit, impacting solar access and visual enjoyment. Mr Haines also expressed concerns about increased noise levels due to the building’s proximity and highlighted potential environmental impact on a nearby large pine tree. He urged the council to reject the development, citing implications for residential amenity, environmental integrity, and community aesthetics.

Read: The Origins of Collaroy: A Sydney Suburb Named for a Shipwreck

The significant responses so far highlights the community’s apprehensions about the potential impact on the local environment and character of Collaroy.

Published 15-May-2024

The post Community Concern Over Proposed $14M Block of Flats in Collaroy appeared first on Collaroy News.

Read: Collaroy’s Long Reef Surf Life Saving Club Opens New Sustainable Home

The presence of the impromptu car yard has become a source of growing complaints from nearby business owners and shopkeepers as the influx of vehicles has caused inconvenience for businesses in the area, hampering their customers’ ability to find parking spaces during the weekends.

The kerbside lane of Pittwater Road, situated between Anzac Pde and Hadleigh Avenue, becomes occupied by for-sale vehicles, leaving visitors to nearby Griffith Park struggling to secure parking spots.

Vincent De Luca, an independent councillor on the Northern Beaches Council, has long been an advocate for banning the car market due to safety concerns. Recently, De Luca received advice from Transport for NSW affirming the illegality of advertising vehicles for sale on public roads or in public places without prior approval from the council. 

De Luca has been pushing for the implementation of a two-hour parking restriction to dissuade individuals from selling their cars along the roadside.

For years, residents, local businesses, and beachgoers have voiced their grievances regarding the presence of cars for sale along Pittwater Rd, Collaroy, and Long Reef throughout the weekends. 

Concerns primarily revolve around the safety risks posed by people walking onto the busy Pittwater Rd to view the vehicles, as well as the loss of parking spaces for local residents and businesses, resulting in a decline in customers.

Acknowledging the significance of these concerns, the council has initiated a period for public submissions, seeking community input on the possibility of eliminating the car market. The aim is to engage with the residents and gain a comprehensive understanding of their apprehensions while exploring potential solutions to address the sale of private cars along Pittwater Rd.

Some business owners complain that the cars for sale along Pittwater Rd often occupy parking spaces that should be available to their customers. The scarcity of parking spots caused by the weekend car market has created a parking predicament throughout the entire neighbourhood.

Read: Parking Limitations Proposed Along Pittwater Road as Complaints Over Weekend Pop-up Car Market Mounts

Cr De Luca, who has been lobbying state governments about this issue since the 1990s, urges individuals to take part in the public submissions process and make their voices heard.

Published 5-July-2023

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