Friends of the City of Unley Society, Inc.

http://eastern-courier-messenger.whereilive.com.au/news/story/exclusive-brethrens-unley-development-win/

AN EXCLUSIVE Brethren-backed $27 million retirement village will be built between Mary and Arthur streets in Unley despite 131 submissions opposing the plan.

Applicant Unley Community Developments (UCD) first proposed a $30 million, four-storey retirement village on the site in 2008 but the project stalled when the Supreme Court ruled that the proposal was non-complying for the zone.

Unley Community Developments director Stephen Hornsey confirmed he was an Exclusive Brethren member but declined to name other company directors.

The revised proposal includes 94 units in four separate buildings with heights up to three storeys, an underground carpark and indoor pool.

Unley’s Development Assessment Panel approved the proposal four votes to one at last Thursday’s meeting (March 3), saying the plans met development guidelines.

It did, however, impose several conditions, including noise-reducing fencing.

Residents in the gallery heckled the panel as the vote was taken.

“This is unbelievable, shame on the council,” one man yelled.

Unley Council received 131 written representations from residents opposing the plan, including one from West Torrens Mayor John Trainer, who lives in Unley, and one in support of the proposal.

Nine residents, including councillor Michael Hewitson and the Friends of the City of Unley Society, spoke against the development.

Cr Michael Saies spoke on behalf of fellow councillor Rufus Salaman, who had personally opposed the plans.

A DAP member, Cr Salaman declared a conflict of interest and left the meeting.

Concerns were raised about the removal of five significant trees, increased density, increased traffic and lack of car parks, overshadowing, lack of privacy and the inadequacy of existing infrastructure to cope with an increased number of residents.

Con Markos, who lives across from the proposed development, said traffic on Arthur St was already out of control.

“Our bedroom is two metres from the boundary,” Mr Markos told the DAP meeting.

“We’re going to have constant traffic coming through day and night. This will affect us quite dramatically. It’s just not right and it’s not fair.”

Cr Hewitson was concerned Unley did not have the appropriate infrastructure, such as parks, gardens and pedestrian crossings, in place to cope with increased population.

“We are inadequately planned for medium density to be put in this area,” Cr Hewitson said.

“In this development the residents of Unley lose (and) I believe this is not a genuine retirement village. I would contend that when we approve this retirement village we are getting mixed use units.”

His concerns were echoed by many residents, but developer Greg Vincent rejected the claim and reassured residents that UCD would need to submit a separate proposal to the council if they wished to change the site’s usage in the future.

“This is for the purpose, and the very distinct purpose, of being a retirement village,” Mr Vincent said.

“There is a very real demand for retirement living in the area.”

A former Exclusive Brethren church, two houses and five significant trees will be removed to make way for the development.

Mr Hornsey did not want to comment further on the plans.

- Alicia Melville-Smith