A POOR planning decision taken 11 years ago has come back to bite the Redland City Council.
Council has approved a controversial 88-lot residential development on Salisbury and Weinam streets, Redland Bay, although the old farm land was originally meant to be used for a retirement villge.
All councillors voted for the development with the exception of Lance Hewlett, although many noted that it was the best outcome after the planning decision in 2005.
The 2005 decision overrode the planning scheme and since then a series of changes have occurred at the block, including development applications, a company going into receivership and new owners of the 4.5ha near-waterfront land.
The land is now in the hands of two separate developers.
A report to council said Freedom Aged Care would continue with a mix of independent living, apartment living and aged care and special needs housing on a portion of the site.
The remainder was owned by Villa World and it would develop a mix of multiple dwellings and single dwelling houses which are part of what is known as the Seascape development.
The report says there is adequate aged care and special needs housing in the area although there was a potential under-supply of detached dwellings.
Cr Mark Edwards said he had met residents likely to be most impacted by the development and their major concerns related to loss of views and keeping the development roughly in line with that which already occurred in the area.
He said plans for 88 lots was reasonable, given the development could have been for 181 town houses.
"This is probably the best outcome we could hope for,'' he said. "Many people will be upset but it's the best option.''
Cr Bishop said he was concerned at the lack of open space and lack of places in which children could play and wondered if the developer could be approached to provide some parkland.
Council chief executive Bill Lyon said councillors could not ask for anything that was not a requirement as part of the planning scheme.
Cr Julie Talty said $9000 of every lot in the development would be used to provide for open space in the local area.
