Whittlesea council has knocked back a proposal to build two double-storey and two single-storey houses on a 674-square-metre block in an established residential area in Lalor.
The council received nine objections to the proposed development for 4 William Street. One of the objections was a petition with 111 signatures.
The council initially signalled it would approve the application, subject to a number of conditions based on a recommendation from the council’s planning department.
But councillors overturned the planners’ recommendation at last Tuesday’s council meeting to the delight of 15 William Street residents who were in attendance.
Arteo Catalano, 79, and his wife, who live next door to the proposed development, were behind the push to have it overturned.
“How can you possibly have 16 people and 16 cars on one block?” he said.
“That’s my argument.”
Cr Sam Alessi was of the same view, calling the proposal “an overdevelopment of the site” after issuing a refusal to grant council approval.
“The development is proposed smack bang in the middle of a developed area,” he said.
“It’s just not in the right place.This area will have some change, but that doesn’t mean you can pile everything on one block in order to get a development.
“Developers need to take note of the provisions that apply to the housing diversity strategy.”
The Thomastown developer of the four homes, MS Designer Living, will have to go back to the drawing board if it wants to comply with the council’s objections.
The council noted that the proposed design did not conform to the established neighbourhood character.
It said it wasn’t set back far enough from the street and public open space was insufficient.
