DOZENS of Victoria Point residents have signed a petition objecting to a unit development slated for vacant land off Colburn Avenue over fears it could impact surrounding properties.
John Watts, who has lived on neighbouring Yeo Street his entire life, is pushing for development plans to be redrawn and the unit block repositioned next to an existing apartment complex at the opposite end of the site.
The surrounding area has a large elderly population and consists primarily of low-set homes.
An application lodged with council shows Brisbane-based developers Diligent Development propose building 12 units and 15 townhouses at 173-177 Colburn Avenue.
The units are planned for the rear of the vacant block, behind low-set homes on Yeo Street, and will contain a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments.
Residents believe the proposal is incompatible with the low-density nature of surrounding streets and does not suit the area’s “village” feel.
Yeo Street resident Rhonda Lamont said they were not opposed to the townhouses but believed the three-storey unit block was a “step too far”.
“According to the letter of the law, it is not an issue. But it just doesn’t fit and the way it is set up is environmentally unacceptable,” she said.
A Diligent Development spokesman said the development had been designed to meet local needs.
“Our research indicates that there is a great demand for apartments with lift and the supply of this kind of product is very limited in the area,” he said.
“Because of its zoning and location. it is within medium density zoning, it gives us the opportunity to develop a product that is in great demand.”
The development was changed from impact to code assessable after the developers amended their application to reduce the height of the building’s lift overrun from 15.07m to 13m.
A Redland City Council spokesman said any development in the medium density residential zone which exceeds 13m in height from the natural ground level triggers impact assessment, requiring public notification.
A change to code assessment means public notification is no longer required.
“The applicant lodged a change to the application on November 28, 2022 to reduce the height of the lift overrun to 13m,” a spokesman said.
“A new confirmation notice was issued on December 5 confirming the development as code assessable.”
Yeo Street resident David Lamont said more than 50 people had signed a petition opposing the development.
“It is 12 feet [about four metres] from our fence and we are overlooked by six balconies and a roof garden”
Mr Watts believed his house value would plummet if the unit block went ahead. “If this goes up, it is probably not worth three-quarters of what it was,” he said.
“Everyone has got a nice quiet little area, and that’s what we moved here for.”
