Council recommends street tree planting
Central Coast Council has recommended street tree planting as a condition of approval for a development application in Booker Bay, in a rare example of council support for street tree planting on the Peninsula.
The application to build a dual occupancy on a 627 square metre site at 40 Webb Rd, Booker Bay, will be heard by the Central Coast Local Planning Panel on Thursday, March 24.
Council planners have recommended approval of the $495,000 proposal.
A total of 15 submissions were received by Council during the notification period.
The proposal does not comply with the planning requirement of an "unarticulated" wall length no greater than eight metres.
The southern side of the building has a length of 13 metres.
The proposal would see the removal of all trees on site, including "a mature apple gum centrally located on the site close to the boundary of 42 Webb Rd".
Because there were trees on the boundary with a neighbouring property, the neighbour's agreement to their removal was provided.
The council assessment states: "The proposal is consistent with the desired future character and densities of the area", but then quotes the character statement within the planning provisions that calls for "leafy gardens".
Sentences from the quoted character statement include: "These areas should remain leafy mixed-density residential neighbourhoods that retain some of the original mid-20th Century bungalows which remain distinctive elements of the Woy Woy Peninsula's identity
"Surround each development with leafy gardens to conserve existing visually-prominent trees.
"Maintain street setbacks that are similar to surrounding properties, and minimise the extent of hard-paved surfaces.
"Reflect the modest scale of traditional mid-Twentieth Century bungalows."
The council planners reported that all 15 submissions received "raised concerns about the removal of the trees within the site, in particular a mature angophora floribunda commonly known as an apple gum".
The submissions said the trees provided shelter for wide life and shade for people, and enhanced the streetscape, its vibrancy and character.
They said the healthy mature shade trees, which were all situated close to the boundary, should be retained and incorporated into the design.
Their retention would be in line with Council's Greener Places Strategy, according to some submissions.
The angophora floribunda was a species in the Urban Coastal Sandplain Woodland endangered ecological community, they said.
The council assessment stated: "Single remnant trees within built up urban areas which are now isolated from areas of bushland are not considered to comprise the Endangered Ecological Community.
"The removal of the tree is supported by Council's ecologist and tree officer and an arborist's report is not required in this instance.
"It is not considered that this tree has a significant impact of character or the scenic quality of the locality and retaining the tree would restrict reasonable development of the site.
"The nature of this particular development being located on a site that has frontage to two streets gives the opportunity for the replacement with a further four street trees to improve the streetscape and scenic quality surrounding the development.
"The proposal also includes significant landscaping within the site which will contribute to the softening of the visual impact of the development.
"Subject to the imposition of appropriate conditions, the proposed development is not expected to have an adverse social or economic impact. It is considered that the proposed development will complement the locality and meet the desired future character of the area."
SOURCE:
Central Coast Local Planning Panel agenda 3.1, 24 Mar 2022