The Sydney Eastern Planning Panel met on the 10th of June to determine the DA at 2-18 Station St, Marrickville. This DA included the demolition of existing structures and construction of a mixed use development comprising a boarding house and a commercial tenancy. Save Marrickville objected to the application due to height and bulk as well as issues of parking, shadowinging and privacy. The original DA was refused by Inner West Council officers.

The panel determined that "the application to vary development standards (Height and FSR) was not worthy of approval and the development application must be refused". The panel did not believe that the site is suitable for development and necessary investigations and reports should be undertaken prior to any new DA being lodged. The full details of the panels' decision can be found here.

Among the reasons for the decision include (but is not limited to):

- Request for 23.88% variation of height of buildings within clause 4-3 of Marrickville Environment Plan 2011 could not be justified and is not considered to be in the public interest.

- The visual bulk is out of scale with the surrounding locality and does not provide sufficient transition from the highest part to the nearby low-density residential zone.

- The architectural design of the building would not be in harmony with the established or future character of the area.

- The proposal does not provide a high standard of design in the private and public domain.

- The site is not suitable for a development of this bulk and scale noting the issues with loading and waste collection.

- Proposed waste collection on Station St would block one way Station St traffic and collection point in "No Stopping Zone.

- The car parking proposed is deficient given the intensity of of the development (221 possible boarders, managers and 3 commercial spaces needed) when assessed in accordance with Marrickville DCP 2011, specific development controls C72, C73,C74 and is inconsistent with the relevant desired future character statement.

- The proposed private open space for manager rooms is of low amenity due to location and size and is inconsistent with Control C6 of MCD Plan 2011.

In coming to its decision, the Panel considered written objections made during the public exhibition and heard from all those wishing to address the Panel. Three local Marrickville residents (including a member of Save Marrickville) spoke at the Panel meeting. The Panel noted the issues of community concern included: excessive bulk; lack of transition; excessive FSR; lack of parking and additional traffic; overshadowing; privacy impacts; lack of compatibility with the character of the area; impact on stability of the Illawarra Road bridge; lack of sufficient managers and no assurance the development will be used for affordable housing and poor architectural design and colours; as well as a variety of other concerns.

Thanks to all who wrote submissions and commented on Planning Alerts.