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

McDonald's Restaurant

Did you read the Opinion page of the Knox Leader for the 15^th December 2009?

A very interesting letter exists which spells danger for the residents of Kathryn Road and the Knoxfield Shops.

Macca Mayhem

Knox residents are being very smart by opposing the proposed 24/7 McDonald’s in Ferntree Gully Road.

I live within the vicinity of the Ferntree Gully 24/7 McDonald’s in Clyde St and am constantly frustrated with the disruption this Macca causes to the neighborhood.

The drive-through constantly blocks access to Clyde St at peak times with vehicles lining up in both directions, forcing other vehicles to have to either wait for up to 10 minutes or make unsafe passes around these vehicles in order to access the rest of Clyde St. How there has never been no accident to date is beyond me.

Another 24/7 Macca in the area will just bring a new set of problems especially in Ferntree Gully Rd with hoon drivers.

T B, Ferntree Gully

Could you imagine the how this scenario could play out in Kathryn Road at the intersection with Ferntree Gully Road?

This application must be turned down by Knox City Planning Department. But unfortunately from past experience with development in Knoxfield, I don’t have much confidence in the Traffic Department to assess this problem and to present a solution.

Maintain your opposition and join the protest on the council steps when council considers this proposal. We will inform you of action to take when the application is advertised. Be prepared for action over the Christmas break, as it could very well be advertised then.