Pathways Property Group (“Pathways”) are forging ahead with their plans to build a 130-bed residential aged care facility at 274 and 274a Longueville Road and 4-18 Northwood Road, Lane Cove (“Northwood Shops Planning Proposal”).
This site is currently occupied by six buildings (including the Metro Service Station aka Speedway Petrol Station and the Riverview Vet). It is also located at the notorious Longueville Road/Kenneth Street and River Road West intersection.
The proposed development will include:
- 130-bed residential aged care facility;
- Allied Health and community well-being services and neighbourhood shops;
- A Senior Day Care Centre for Local Residents.
You can learn more about the development at the Pathways Longueville website.
Current Status
On 1 August 2019, the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (“NSW Planning”) requested a meeting with Lane Cove Council and Pathways to discuss the development. At this meeting Lane Cove Council continued to object to the current proposal and cited numerous issues that were of concern to Council.
The parties agreed there was merit in changing the zoning to B4 Mixed Use, moving the proposed exit point and bushland setbacks. There was no agreement on the different views on the height and floor space ratio control.
The next step is in the hands of the NSW Department of Planning who are now considering whether to finalise the Northwood Shops Planning Proposal. If you would like to express your views on this proposal (either for or against) you can email Rob Stokes the Minister for Planning here.
ITC has heard that several of the businesses located in this shopping area have already, or are in the process, of committing to new premises located elsewhere. However even if planning permission was granted in the near future, there would still be a considerable time delay before redevelopment commenced so please continue to support these businesses. Find out about the existing Northwood shops here.
Background
In September 2016, a community meeting was held. The meeting was packed with local residents expressing their displeasure at the Northwood Shops Planning Proposal.
At the February 2017 Lane Cove Council Meeting, the councillors unanimously rejected the Pathways Residences plan. You can read why the Lane Cove Council rejected the proposal here.
On 27th February 2017, Pathways submitted to the NSW Planning a rezoning review against Council’s decision to reject the Northwood Shops Planning Proposal. Despite Lane Cove Council submissions, the Sydney North Planning Panel determined that the proposal demonstrated strategic and site-specific merit and that it should be submitted for a Gateway Determination, along with a draft Development Control Plan.
The Northwood Shops Planning Proposal was granted a Gateway Determination by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment. Even though the Lane Cove Council did not agree with the plan they were still required to notify and exhibit the planning proposal and hold a further community information session on Wednesday 14th March 2018.
Again the meeting was packed with local residents expressing their displeasure at the proposed Northwood Shops Planning Proposal.
As part of the community consultation, residents were surveyed about the proposed plans with market researchers asking questions in the Lane Cove Plaza. ITC was told by some of the surveyed residents their number one concern was traffic and the dangerous intersection. They did not consider the proposed site as appropriate for an aged care facility.
In 2018, Pathways submitted amended plans. Lane Cove Council again refused the Northwood Shops Planning Proposal on the following town planning and urban design grounds:
- The proposed scale is considered excessive and conflicts with the scale of the nearby Lane Cove Village;
- The proposed scale is inconsistent with other B1 Neighbourhood Centre zones;
- The fourth leg at the Kenneth/Northwood signalised intersection is opposed by the RMS;
- A single site entry/egress is requested at the southern end of the site by the RMS;
- No public benefits are proposed to be delivered despite a development that seeks substantial uplift;
- The 3 metre rear buffer to the adjoining SEPP19 bushland (zoned E2) is opposed by NSW Office of Environment & Heritage (OE&H), and it has not been demonstrated that the adjacent bushland can be adequately protected by the proposed 3m wide buffer;
- Offset planting is required by OE&H on-site if two turpentine trees are removed;
- NSW OE&H have confirmed that the impacts on the adjoining SEPP19 bushland are not adequately addressed;
- Based on independent analysis of the original urban design documents, the building envelope envisaged by the proposed floor space ratio and height control cannot be achieved;
- Council’s independent urban design analysis concludes that both height and floor space ratio are not suitably justified on urban design or planning grounds;
- Council’s independent urban design analysis has confirmed that a more modest scale would achieve a better built form and design outcome and further likely reduce overshadowing impacts on adjoining residential properties; and
- The amended urban design responses does not adequately address issues raised by Council’s independent urban design analysis, nor do they provide any justification for their proposed height and floor space ratio.
Four Aged Care/Seniors Living Development Applications
In addition to the Northwood Shops Planning Proposal there are currently four aged care/senior’s living development applications being considered by Lane Cove Council or the Planning Department in the Longueville Road/River Road and River Road West area.
A DA for aged care/seniors living have been lodged for the following sites:
266 Longueville Road Lane Cove;
Greenwich Hospital Upgrade to include seniors living; and;
The old Billy Blue site on the corner or Greenwich Road and River Road Greenwich (DA103/2019)
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