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