A THREE-STOREY, 45-unit development on Fernbourne Road, Wellington Point has been given the go ahead by Redland City Council.
Crs Wendy Boglary, Paul Golle, Tracey Huges and Julie Talty voted against the development but councillors said there were no grounds for the application to be refused.
The development site was zoned medium density in 2006 because of its proximity to the Wellington Point train station.
The proposed development has 45 units in two buildings. It will be up to three storeys, plus a basement.
There are two one-bedroom, 27 two-bedroom and 16 three-bedroom apartments.
The site has been the subject of previous applications. In December 2016, residents opposed one application saying the proposed development was almost double the medium density criteria.
In May last year, council agreed that apartments on the site could go ahead on condition that developers increased open space, reduced the units and improved the view from the street.
The developers lodged an appeal in court against that decision.
The most recent application - filed after the Redland City Plan came into use in October - did not require public notification.
Cr Boglary said the application ticked all the new boxes of the Redland City Plan but the only concern addressed was the streetscape.
She said the development's design in the latest application improved the visual appeal of the building.
"However, this doesn't make it an appropriate development in size for this area," she said.
"If it was in Cleveland where all the high rises were going, I would acknowledge this design.
"However in a mature residential suburb it remains inappropriate."
Cr Boglary said the small Wellington Point station would meet few needs of the new residents.
Cr Paul Gleeson said higher density accommodation should be focused around stations and there were no grounds to refuse the application.
"If we vote against it, we will go to court and we'd lose," he said.
Cr Murray Elliott said the latest application was a good outcome.
He said the development would be accepted once built.
Cr Paul Golle said Thornlands had been impacted by challenges like parking from similar types of developments.
Council will receive $967,000 in infrastructure charges from the development.
Cr Boglary said there had been no infrastructure placed in the area although there had been development.
"No new play equipment for the families is my biggest concern as with this density especially with the units the children do not have back yards to run around," she said.
