The image above depicts the position of a recent decision handed down at VCAT for 92 Kooyong Road, Caulfield North. The applicant got his permit for a 4 storey building with office and dwellings. We highlight this decision because it has major ramifications for all areas nominated as ‘local centres’ in council’s planning scheme – and there are stacks of these little stretches of shops, offices all zoned commercial and all surrounded by residential dwellings. Here is the list (and many have already been exploited) –
Patterson
Glen Eira Rd/Hotham St
Town Hall Precinct
Mackie Rd
Chesterville Rd/South Rd
Crimea (Kooyong Rd)
Gardenvale
Mackie Rd/Centre Rd
McKinnon Rd/East Boundary Rd
Bambra Rd/North Rd
Poath Rd/North Rd
Tucker Rd/Patterson Rd
Murrumbeena Rd/Oakleigh Rd
Hawthorn Rd/Inkerman Rd
Orange Rd/Warrigal Rd
Koorang Rd/Truganini Rd
McKinnon Rd/Tucker Rd
Brewer Rd/Todd St
Bignell Rd/Matthews Rd
Kooyong Rd/Glen Huntly Rd
Scanlon Ct/South Rd
Clarence St/East Boundary Rd
North Rd/East Boundary Rd
Thus far no mention whatsoever has been made of these ‘local centres’ in council’s current work program. If the flood gates have now well and truly opened then it is incumbent on council to ensure that any strategic planning addresses the issues. We also remind readers that many of the above listed streets are already seeing 4 and 5 storey developments abutting residential properties.
Glen Eira Debates 
April 6, 2017 at 8:57 AM
The implications are scary. I don’t get why the new council isn’t undertaking an audit of planning gaps, such as the one mentioned in this post, and also a review the Planning Scheme Review work plan. This would seem logically given the angst that this situation is creating. Here is a great opportunity to show some leadership and rectify what is clearly broken. History shows that unless the gap is closed, the destruction happens very quickly. Action please.
April 6, 2017 at 10:28 AM
The planning scheme review was supposed to be the “audit”. It wasn’t. There have been plenty of comments up here about vcat and its decisions. Councillors have had a great time in blaming vcat for everything. The eventual report on the review didn’t look at individual vcat decisions but lumped decisions according to the zones. That meant that the reasons why council got refused so often remained secret and out of bounds. The finger couldn’t be pointed at the planning scheme itself. The time for subterfuge is over. These councillors must admit they have got a lousy planning scheme and analyse every single word in order to plug the gaps. That comes back to officers doing the necessary analysis and reporting honestly on what they find. Starting off with a rundown of individual vcat decisions where the member has said anything about the planning scheme as the grounds for the decision. Then I would expect to see some comment or recommendation on what can be done to fix the lapse. What we got was nothing like this.
April 6, 2017 at 6:13 PM
Agreed, now is the chance for the new Councillors to challenge previous decisions. I’m sure they read this blog, the summary provided has scary implications. Action please.
April 7, 2017 at 11:33 AM
Only if the new Councillors knew anything better. They are shaken up by the remnants.
April 6, 2017 at 10:12 AM
Bayside is currently receiving submissions for its C126 amendment. This defines all of its commercial areas – not just the major activity centres. Furthermore, it is grounded on a recent housing strategy/neighbourhood study. See: https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/amendment-c126-bayside-small-activity-centres-strategy
April 6, 2017 at 10:16 AM
Just common sense.
April 6, 2017 at 11:46 AM
Poor buggers next door. Ones gone so all will go.
April 6, 2017 at 1:33 PM
There would have been better chance if all old councillors were wiped out.
April 6, 2017 at 4:20 PM
List is way out of date like everything else in the planning scheme. Council has rezoned and rezoned to help out developers. There’s now Ripponlea Village that’s 5 storeys I think. Poath road is becoming a disaster and so on and so on.
April 6, 2017 at 7:28 PM
Friends living near Mackinnon high school told me that someone put in a go for 5 stories on Tucker. They let this lapse but reckon they will be back. Great for the neighbours. 5 stories up against single stories.
April 6, 2017 at 8:08 PM
Wait until McKinnon campus is approved in East Bentleigh. Murrumbeena will be going nuts!
April 6, 2017 at 9:21 PM
Priorities are all wrong. Residents have to come first and that’s never been on council’s agenda. It’s get more development which means more rates and fritter this away on show pieces. By the time they get around to all the local centres we’ll have 5 and 6 stories everywhere and Carnegie is already a write off and so is Caulfield with the mrc running the show.
April 7, 2017 at 6:00 AM
Its time for a community protest.