REDLAND City Council has rolled the dice on the controversial proposal to develop space at the Cleveland Railway Station into two 29m nine-storey residential towers, giving the project preliminary approval.
Final approval will be given if the developer adjusts plans to save a koala food tree at the front of the station and increases unit parking by 29 per cent.
The increased parking will not be for commuters but will ease some small pressure on public spaces by providing more parks for unit visitors.
Councillors hope the preliminary approval will send a positive message to developer Envisage Development Management that the project will be backed if the issues are met.
Cr Tracey Huges how put forward the plan to council said she was willing to see the matter go to court to save the tree and push for more parking
Envisage already has a development agreement in place with the state government.
Mayor Karen Williams warned councillors that the preliminary approval was council’s best chance of maintaining at least some control and to meet substantial community concerns on the development which was on state land.
Councillors had no control over the number of commuter car parks, which was a state matter.
A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe has said the government is examining its park and ride policy but did not respond to questions about whether the number of parks would be increased.
Raby Bay resident and engineer John Derbyshire said he believed council had a strong case to fight the project in court.
Decisions related to the development would have impacts on businesses and lifestyles of residents for generations to come.
“The project is ill-conceived, potentially leaving a terrible legacy,’’ he said. “However, the council has an opportunity to correct this by refusing the application.’’
Mr Derbyshire said as the only government land in the area which was not developed, the site should be kept for government-orientated development as there was substantial land nearby for residences.
The government assumed that under its so-called Transport Orientated Development, people would walk, take a bus or bicycle to the station which was incorrect.
“The outcome becomes the opposite of an over-arching transport objective, which is to encourage people to use public transport,’’ he said.
There are 235 public car spaces in two separate state-owned station car parks and a further 17 extra public spaces will be added. The developer proposes 124 unit parking spaces and this would rise to about 150, should it concede to council wishes.
Approval conditions will not help surrounding residents who have raised concerns about a loss of privacy due to the height of the development which overlooks their properties.
Cr Williams strained to control a lengthy and heated debate on the issue, with several councillors trying to introduce documents and issues outside planning provisions.
Parking pressure near the station prompted the Raby Bay Body Corporate last May to start towing away cars parked for long periods on its property.
