PLANS by YMCA to build 48 units at Victoria Point have been quashed by Redland City Council with concerns the proposal posed traffic issues and contravened zoning requirements.
The not-for-profit organisation, which owns an about hectare-sized block along Link Road, had wanted to develop vacant land behind their YMCA facility into housing.
The 48, two-storey units would have fit into nine buildings planned for the site, with changes to a car park shared between an existing business and the YMCA also included.
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The development application, first lodged two-and-a-half years ago, was today scrapped after councillors voted to accept the recommendations made by council’s planning staff.
In a 21-page impact assessment tendered to council, it was recommended YMCA’s proposed material change of use for multiple dwellings and lot reconfiguration applications be refused.
See below document from page 38 for more.
The report found the changes would have meant less car parks for patrons and insufficient vehicle turning space due to building encroachment.
Congestion along the single driveway into the site may have ensued from shared use by patrons and residents, with habitat protection overlay conflicts also listed as grounds for refusal.
“The proposed development does not support an integrated, legible, efficient and safe movement network that provides for pedestrians, cycle and vehicle movement networks that maximise connectivity, permeability and ease of mobility,” the report read.
The proposed housing development also conflicted with the site’s community purpose zone.
Division four councillor Lance Hewlett congratulated council planning officers for their “thorough” investigations into the YMCA proposal.
While the recommendations to refuse the YMCA’s plans were carried, division six councillor Julie Talty criticized council’s lengthy handling of the non-profit organisation’s development application.
She said significant time and resources had been invested by the YMCA in their architecturally-designed plans.
“It is disappointing when so much was done on the application,” she said.
“This is a very long running episode.”
The YMCA of Brisbane were contacted for comment about council’s rejection of their development application.
The organisation wanted to use the surplus land to meet future residential accommodation needs, with plans to invest profits back into their community-based facilities.
About 40 submissions against the YMCA proposal were received by council.
