McDonald's Restaurant

Congratulations to the eight objectors that ventured to VCAT for  the McDonald’s Restaurant proposal and presented their arguments. A good hearing was conducted by the chair enabling a well-balanced argument against the restaurant to be heard. Objections centred on disruption to the neighbors’ lifestyle, traffic problems created by the proposal, lack of parking space within the restaurant, security in the vicinity, increased traffic, litter and smells for Kathryn Road residents and the undesirable effect on the Knoxfield Shopping Centre.

 

VicRoads also presented an argument against the traffic flow proposal presented by McDonalds, forcing McDonalds to present two scenarios. Option A had traffic entering and leaving the restaurant in both Ferntree Gully and Kathryn Roads and Option B with entry only from Ferntree Gully Road and an entry and exit in Kathryn Road. Option B was VicRoads desired plan, which creates numerous problems for management of the restaurant with three entry points and only one exit point for all traffic including delivery vans. At the conclusion to the hearing, the chair announced that as VicRoads control Ferntree Gully Road option B is the only option he can consider. McDonalds do not want Option B, so they announced that it looks like we’ll all have to return to VCAT in the future.

 

With some luck or good fortune we can hope that McDonalds will see the problems their proposal creates and withdraw their plan for a restaurant at the corner of Kathryn and Ferntree Gully Roads.

 

Congratulations must go to Kerry  for his research into the parking for this and nearby McDonalds’ stores. His close questioning of expert witnesses also added much input to the residents case against. Thanks also to Peter, Rafaele, Nick and Ian for their presentations.

 

We now await the decision of the VCAT.

Tawny Frogmouth in Knoxfield

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I took this photo of a Tawny Frogmouth and her young one in a tree in Kathryn Road, Knoxfield. The Tawny Frogmouth feeds on rodents, small possums and large insects. You may hear them banging their prey on your spouts at night while they kill them.

 

With the continual building of townhouse units in Kathryn Road and depriving the wildlife of their habitat, what is to become of special visitors like these to our gardens. When was the last time you saw an Eastern Spinebill honeyeater in your garden. In the past they were frequent visitors to our gardens. Try planting some native plants like Correas and Epacris (heath) in your garden may encourage them to come back.

 

Knoxfield is rich in wildlife, it’s a shame that we are continually depriving them of a home just to over-populate our suburb.

 

VCAT has notified us that the hearing will now begin on the 14^th December 2010 and go for four days. Please keep these dates clear in your diaries if you intend appearing before the tribunal

McDonalds and VCAT

If you lodged an objection to Knox City Council against the McDonald’s Restaurant planning application you should have received notification from URBIS that they are taking the planning application to VCAT. In the letter of notification you should have received a “Statement of Grounds” form. It is important that you complete this form to again lodge your reasons for an objection. To do this follow these steps:

 

1.       Complete your personal details

2.       List briefly your objections that you submitted to Knox City Council

3.       Make two photocopies of your Statement of Grounds and forward them to: URBIS and the Knox City Council

4.       Write in the space provided the date you forwarded these copies to URBIS and Knox City Council

5.       Mail your Statement of Grounds to VCAT by Friday 28^th May 2010

 

Completion of this form then registers you to make a presentation of your objections to VCAT. The date and time of the hearing will be notified to you in due course. It is essential that as many objectors as possible attend this hearing to show the tribunal we don’t want this restaurant at this site in Knoxfield.

 

Should you require assistance in completing the Statement of Grounds you may contact me on 0425756688

 

Ian Simpson

Knoxfield Residents are not afraid of Change

At the 27th April Knox City Council meeting Cr Gill, when moving an amendment to approve the McDonald’s Restaurant, stated that residents (of Knoxfield) were afraid of change. I need to correct Cr Gill, as Knoxfield residents appreciate that change and development must take place to house the population explosion we are experiencing, but this development must be in character with our suburb and be in pace with the infrastructure of roads and services. Not over-development as we are witnessing in Kathryn Road wherein a distance of 250 metres four houses will be replaced by thirty-five residences. This development must respect the leafy green bushland type character of the area and the wildlife that visits our properties. If we wanted over-development Cr Gill we would be living in inner suburbs like Richmond.

Our Garden for Wildlife is frequently visited by pardelotes, eastern spinebills, crimson rosellas, rainbow lorikeets to name a few and we have nightly visits from possums, tawny frogmouths, fruit bats and occasionally the powerful owl. We wish to retain this environment and preserve our trees.

Knoxfield residents vigorously opposed the McDonald’s Restaurant mainly because it was an inappropriate development in a Residential 3 Zone, that would have created dangerous traffic conditions for Kathryn Road and Knox Place, safety issues for pedestrians, damage the economy of the Knoxfield Shopping Centre and have a major environmental impact on immediate neighbors.

The first argument that developers have stated in various forums is that residents are afraid of change, it is a shame that some councilors that have the responsibility to independently assess developments use the terminology of developers. How independent are they?

Knox Council Refuses McDonald's Planning Application

 On a vote of 6 to 3, council last night refused the planning application for McDonald’s on the following grounds:

That Council issue a Notice of Refusal to Grant a Planning Permit for Use and development of the land for a convenience restaurant with associated landscaping, carparking, advertising signs and alteration of access to a Category 1 Road at 1563 Ferntree Gully Road, Knoxfield due to the following grounds:

            1. The proposed use does not satisfy any of the purposes of the Residential 3 Zone and is inappropriate for the chosen site.

            2. Traffic management arrangements are unacceptable and would have an adverse impact on existing traffic movements and on surrounding uses.

            3. The proposed use and development would cause unreasonable adverse amenity impacts to surrounding residential uses, is an overdevelopment, and the landscaping design and package of advertising signs are inappropriate and unacceptable.

Cr Andrew Walter passionately moved the motion stating this application would create a dangerous intersection at Kathryn and Ferntree Gully Roads. He also stated that it would be dangerous for the youth that use the skate park, would create overspill of parking at Knoxfield shops and impact badly on Kathryn Road.

The meeting threatened to develop into a stale mate with Cr Gill initially moving an amendment that would have permitted the McDonald’s application. The fourteen page legalistic motion presented by Cr Gill took 40 minutes to read and was seconded by Cr Cole and supported by Cr Pearce. All other councilors opposed the amendment, and then the original motion to refuse the application was put and won. Besides Cr Walter’s passionate argument, intelligent reasoned and supportive comments were also made by Crs Cooper, Van der Vreede and Mortimer.

Now if it goes to VCAT residents need to reply to VCAT’s correspondence and attend the hearing in large numbers to have an impact on their decision.

Refusal Notice for McDonalds

Knox Council Planning Department have REFUSED the McDonald’s Application for a restaurant.

This is Good News Wednesday, well for Stage 1.

Next we must make sure that all councillors follow the recommendation of the Planning Department. Email all councillors reminding them of the Recommendation from the Planning Department and encouraging them to vote accordingly.

 

Be prepared to attend VCAT as it will surely go there. Forty passionate residents would have a major impact on this tribunal.

 

This decision is due to your objections and attendance at the PCC meeting. Find below the email addresses of all Knox City Councillors

 

 

 RECOMMENDATION

That Council issue a Notice of Refusal to Grant a Planning Permit for Use and development of the land for a convenience restaurant with associated landscaping, carparking, advertising signs and alteration of access to a Category 1 Road at 1563 Ferntree Gully Road, Knoxfield due to the following grounds:

            1. The proposed use does not satisfy any of the purposes of the Residential 3 Zone and is inappropriate for the chosen site.

            2. Traffic management arrangements are unacceptable and would have an adverse impact on existing traffic movements and on surrounding uses.

            3. The proposed use and development would cause unreasonable adverse amenity impacts to surrounding residential uses, is an overdevelopment, and the landscaping design and package of advertising signs are inappropriate and unacceptable.

 

Report Prepared By: Planner (Nick Robins)

Report Authorised By: Director – City Development (Angelo Kourambas)

 

Knox City Councillors

 

Cr David Cooper - david.cooper@knox.vic.gov.au

               Cr Adam Gill -          adam.gill@knox.vic.gov.au

               Cr Andrew Walter – andrew.walter@knox.vic.gov.au

                Cr Peter Cole – peter.cole@knox.vic.gov.au

                Cr Joe Cossari (Mayor) – joe.cossari@knox.vic.gov.au

                Cr Sue McMillan – sue.mcmillan@knox.vic.gov.au

                Cr Mick Van der Vreede - mick.vandevreede@knox.vic.gov.au

                 Cr John Mortimore -  john.mortimore@knox.vic.gov.au
 

                Cr   Darren Pearce - darren.pearce@knox.vic.gov.au

 

Urgent Message - Maccas Meeting Tomorrow

Just a reminder that the Planning Meeting with McDonald’s restaurant and the council is on tomorrow night at the council offices at 7.30pm. Please try to make it as we need as many people in attendance as possible to show that there is opposition to this proposal. Michael Colling had a meeting with Cr Andrew Walter recently and was told by him that as no-one has contacted him about McDonalds he assumes that there’s NO opposition to it. Maybe the petition of 600 voters might change his mind. If you haven’t signed the petition there’s a copy at the Knoxfield Newsagency and Tony’s Fish and Chip Shop, but only until Tuesday morning.

Cheers and hopefully see you tomorrow

Ian

McDonald's Objections and Petition

If you still wish to lodge an objection to the McDonald's Restaurant it is not too late. Council will accept objections up until a council meeting considers the objection, which will be in April.

There is also a petition circulating. Most Knoxfield take-away foodshops, the newsagency and pharmacy have copies of the petition for you to sign. Let's show the councilors that residents in Knoxfield DON"T want a McDonald's Restaurant in our suburb.

Ian

McDonald's Campaign

 Today I rang Paul Dickie, Manager of Planning, Knox Council, re McDonald’s Application and was told that to date 106 objections have been received by the council. This does not mean that you can’t still send in objections, as council must receive them until decision day which will be Tuesday 29^th April 2010.

Knox Council has set down the 16^th March for a Planning Consultation Committee meeting with the objectors, the applicant (McDonalds), councilors and Planning staff. You must mark this date in your diaries as it is essential that all objectors attend to display our opposition to this planned restaurant. Usually everyone that attends has an opportunity to speak. All objectors will receive an official invitation to this meeting from Knox City Council. Hopefully we’ll be able to present our concerns to McDonalds, the councilors and the council officials that make the decision.

Today I delivered petition forms to the take-away restaurants, butchers and newsagency, hoping that we can get many hundreds of signatures in opposition to this planning proposal. The petition only counts as one objection, but it delivers a message to the councilors about the wishes of residents.

If you wish to help further with the petition I have included a copy in this email. It is essential that everyone signs in the appropriate place and that only this form be used. Additional pages attached without the wording will not be accepted.

Thanks for your assistance and let’s win this campaign

Ian 0425756688

Macca's Campaign

My apologies to everyone as I typed the wrong application number on the objection form, which went to council. Fortunately all that were delivered to my house were corrected before being submitted but some got through the system. Everyone apparently got a the same letter stating the wrong application number was entered.

I’ll check on the final number next week, but earlier this week there were about 100 objections lodged.

Ian