Kiama Council staff advised councillors to reject a development application submitted by a Kiama Downs family.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
However, at the ordinary meeting on Tuesday night a majority of Kiama councillors sided with the family, and plans to subdivide the 1300 square-metre property on Barton Drive will go ahead.
“The owners want to sell the front home and build their own home in the back yard,” Kiama consultant Natalie Allan said.
“They need council approval to demolish the carport and add a driveway so they can access the rear lot.”
Council staff indicated the driveway to be built on the property would be too narrow to navigate.
“The proposal sets an undesirable planning precedent...and is therefore not in the public interest,” environmental services director Linda Davis said via council’s agenda.
There were no letters in objection to the subdivision, and council received one letter in favour of the proposal from a neighbour.
Councillor Andrew Sloan agreed with council staff.
“Whatever’s driving up the lane, the front mirrors will be touching the brick walls of the house,” Cr Sloan said.
“If this gets approved it’s going to be a terrible outcome.”
Councillor Matt Brown put forward the motion to approve the subdivision.
“These issues are not insurmountable,” Cr Brown said.
“Not everyone drives a Jeep, most people drive small family cars rather than big gas guzzlers.
“I’ve been swayed by the neighbour’s letters of support, I’m always going to lean towards supporting the view of local families in these matters.”
FOR: Mayor Mark Honey, Councillors Brown, Neil Reilly, Warren Steel, Don Watson, Mark Way
AGAINST: Deputy Mayor Cathy Rice, Councillors Sloan, Mark Westhoff