Mixed-use Development Mackenzie St, Lavender Bay

Please see my comments in my attachment

To whom it may concern,
The size and scale of this project is completely inappropriate for the area. Whilst it may be appropriate north of the train line, the area south of the rail line has no high-rise buildings and we residents appreciate the village atmosphere. Specific objections are:
1) The inappropriate height of the development.
2) The lack of sufficient parking for residents and guests of the building, in an area where residents street parking spaces are already hard to find.
3) The loss of privacy - the higher floors will be able to see directly into our master bedroom.
4) The tiny proportion and short duration of the affordable housing, likely to significantly reduce the affordable housing compared to what is already available.
5) The plans only cover a small part of the wider development, since it also seems to be proposed that the two skyscrapers either side of North Sydney station will be rebuilt.
6) The likely enormous disruption and decreased safety around the Blues Point Road / Miller Street / Blue Street junction during construction, including difficulty accessing the train station and bus station.
7) The likely significant construction noise, which will be a serious issue as residents who work from home.
8) The shocking lack of notice for the community consultations! And the leaflet from HillDPA inviting us to information sessions in June was received at the end of August!!!

I would like to see the buildings on Blues Street either side of the train station left alone, unchanged. And a shorter, perhaps 9 story block on Mackenzie Street to reduce parking and privacy pressures.
Many thanks,
Andrew

The scale of this proposed project is absolutely unfathomable considering this heritage listed area , volume on our streets , drainage, infrastructure and the impact on residents with shadowing and privacy. It would destroy Lavender bay and many residents quality of life. It is not in keeping with the direct low lying properties either side and surrounding. Our roads can not support more traffic.Residents pay huge dollars and rates for this amazing heritage listed area that is extremely unique. As a local residents, we regularly witness car , bicycle and bus accidents from the already over congested streets. We understand the need for more housing but not to the detriment of existing residents and retirement homes. This scale is totally unexceptionable.

Effects On Heritage and Heritage Conservation Area
Height Of The Tower
Setbacks
Shadowing & Solar Access
Rezoning of Heritage area to R4 High Density
Parking Spaces & Street Parking
Affordable Living 15 years only
Privacy & Noise
No Real Community Consultation

Objection to 20-storey tower attached

Dear Sir/Madam

I object to the proposal of any developments bypassing Council and LEPP controls as this allows for over developing of areas and creating of precedents for other developments.

I object to this proposal for the following reasons:

This development sits adjacent to the Lavender Bay Conservation Area and will destroy heritage character of the area
• Scale will negatively impact the solar access, privacy and general amenity (including increased
noise, wind tunnels and loss of views) for nearby residents to unacceptable levels.
• A significant portion of Lavender Bay will experience widespread overshadowing.
• It will cause dangerous vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic along Miller Street and
Mackenzie Street
• The development will worsen the already inadequate street-based car parking for residents,
visitors.

Thank you

I object to SSD-88702457 in its current form, while supporting the objective of providing more housing close to public transport.

North Sydney is an appropriate location for significant housing growth. Existing commercial buildings can be adapted to residential or mixed uses, and established high-rise sites can accommodate substantial numbers of new residents close to North Sydney Station.

However, supporting housing growth should not mean that every site within walking distance of a station is appropriate for CBD-scale development.

The St Francis Xavier site is particularly sensitive because it sits at the point where the high-rise North Sydney centre transitions into the much lower-scale residential and heritage environment of Lavender Bay.

The proposal would introduce a 20-storey tower of approximately 70 metres where the existing planning controls are approximately 8.5 to 12 metres. That is an extraordinary change in scale.

There are already nearby SSD proposals within the established North Sydney built form that demonstrate alternative ways of delivering housing. The proposed adaptive reuse of existing commercial development at 5 Blue Street is one example of how additional apartments and co-living accommodation can be provided close to the station without extending the CBD boundary into a lower-scale neighbourhood.

The planning question should therefore not simply be whether the St Francis Xavier site is close enough to a station to support additional density. It should be what level of density is appropriate at this particular point in the transition.

I support additional housing on appropriately located sites and would support appropriately scaled additional housing here. I do not support the proposition that achieving housing targets requires a 20-storey tower at this location.

I ask the Department to require a substantial reduction in height and bulk.

Thanks

I object to SSD-88702457 in its current form.
I do not live in Lavender Bay, but I work in the area every weekday and one of the things I value most about it is how distinctly different it feels from North Sydney despite being immediately beside it.
Within a very short distance, the environment changes from a high-rise commercial centre into a quieter, lower-scale residential and heritage neighbourhood. Mackenzie Street is an important part of that transition. The existing church, older buildings, gardens and low-rise residential development give the street a scale and character that clearly belongs to Lavender Bay rather than the North Sydney CBD.
I support additional housing, including affordable housing, and I am not opposed to redevelopment of the St Francis Xavier site. However, I do not believe that requires a 20-storey tower of approximately 70 metres in this location.
The proposed height appears particularly excessive when the existing height controls across the site are approximately 8.5 to 12 metres. A development of this scale would effectively extend the high-rise North Sydney built form further into Lavender Bay rather than provide a genuine transition between the two areas.
There are already substantial opportunities for additional housing within the established North Sydney centre, including conversion of existing commercial buildings to residential and mixed uses. Increasing housing close to public transport makes sense, but it should be concentrated at an appropriate scale and location.
Lavender Bay's value comes partly from the fact that it has remained a distinct neighbourhood immediately beside a major CBD. Once that transition is lost through successive high-rise developments, it will be extremely difficult to restore.
I therefore ask the Department to refuse the proposal in its current form or require a substantial reduction in its height, bulk and density.

Please see my attached letter. Thank you

I object to this proposal in its current form. Lavender Bay is a distinct, low-scale heritage pocket, and this development is significantly out of scale with its setting.

**Heritage and character:** This pocket retains a fine-grained, low-rise streetscape and heritage fabric that should be protected, not eroded by incremental over-development. Approving a scheme of this bulk sets a precedent that will accelerate the loss of exactly what makes the area worth conserving.

**Scale:** The proposed height, bulk and density are not appropriate for the site or its surrounds. It overwhelms adjoining low-scale heritage properties and does not respond to the existing streetscape rhythm, setbacks, or building heights in the immediate vicinity.

**Boundary with North Sydney CBD:** There needs to be a clear, defensible delineation between the North Sydney CBD growth precinct and the surrounding heritage pockets like Lavender Bay/McMahons Point. This site sits on the heritage side of that line, and approving CBD-scale built form here blurs a boundary that should be firmly held.

I ask that the application be refused in its current form, or substantially reduced in scale to reflect the heritage character and low-rise context of the area.

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I have concerns about the planning proposal SSD -88702457 St Franscis Xavier Church Mackenzie Street , Lavender Bay, due to the inclusion of the 20 storey tower in this project.
I object to the 20 tower because
• Its height and width are incompatible with the rest of the proposed development especially in a heritage sensitive area
• Of Its proximity to the old cottages on the corner of Walker and Mackenzie Street, causing overshadowing and invading privacy
• Its scale will negatively impact the solar access for the nearby residents to an unacceptable level
• An increase number of residents of this scale will cause increased traffic into Lavender Street which is already a busy thoroughfare for pedestrians and vehicles.
With modifications to the size and height of the proposed tower, the project would be a suitable site for a project such as this. I believe that most residents would approve of this project if the height of the tower was significantly reduced .

I am strongly in favour of this project. North Sydney is an excellent place for more high-rise housing. Being a stone's throw from two train stations, many many schools, a lot of office towers and plenty of retail, It would be hard to imagine a better spot in the country for high density housing. I know this area well because I work only a few blocks away.

I support the development, my only comment is it should be taller. We have a housing problem, we need more housing, we only get more housing by approving more housing

I have lived in Lavender Bay and McMahons Point precincts for ten years now, and have been an active precinct member during that time. The proposed scale and height of this project is excessive in relation to the heritage footprint in lavender bay, specifically this location on the current old peoples home and citadel apartments on church grounds, directly opposite historical cottages and the sandstone cathedral.
The encroachment of towers per blue street into McKenzie street and the lavender bay heritage conservation zone is both inappropriate and insensitive over development.
In light of the recent rejection of Middlemiss tower plans on the very same grounds of insensitivity and over reach the McKenzie street proposal should also be sent back to the drawing board to be rescaled more appropriately for the tiny suburb it seeks to be a part of.
Lavender Bay is NOT a part of the North Sydney business district. Lavender Bay is a relatively intact, residential-heritage suburb with substantial provenance that’s its residents, alongside those of McMahons point, have consistently perserved to preserve for its unique working Harbourside village heritage , authentic historical texture and liveable qualities
The current plans must be reconsidered in relation to a more appropriate height.


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I am the owner of an investment property at unit 5, 16 Mackenzie Street, North Sydney (Lot 5 / SP 2266) which is directly opposite the proposed development, which my family has owned since the early 1980's.
My objection to the development is in relation to four principal matters.
Firstly I object to the rezoning proposal and the characterisation in the EIS in support of the rezoning that the site is essentially an extension of the North Sydney CBD - it is not and never has been, infact it is continuous with the Lavender Bay Heritage Conservation Area on the opposite side of Mackenzie Street.
Secondly I submit that Mackenzie Street is a narrow residential access street completely unsuited to providing a construction access for the demolition, excavation and construction works proposed by the developer, as well as the inevitable trademens utes during the construction / fitout phase (with total onsite workforce estimated to exceed 250).
Thirdly I consider the impact on affected residents of the 2 stage development duration of 164 weeks to be completely at odds with the existing quiet residential and religious nature of Mackenzie Street, including the fact that many residents and tenants are spending time working from home.
Fourthly I consider the proposal to allow woking on Saturdays and that "Sundays and Night works will be subject to Out of Hours Permit Approvals" to be totally incompatible with the adjacent residential and church activities.

Whilst I acknowledge the current housing shortage in Sydney, particularly the lack of both affordable and social housing, I object to this proposal because of the detrimental impacts it will have on a number of important elements of the neighbourhood amenity.
The proposed density height and width are in no way compatible with the heritage character of the Lavender Bay Area.
The proposed scale of building will result in widespread overshadowing, wind tunnelling and wind noise and a loss of views for nearby residents.
The development has great potential to increase pressure on the already inadequate street parking as well as increasing vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic in an uncontrolled and potentially dangerous way.
Also I believe the affordable housing should be in perpetuity .

I note the need to address the housing shortage in Sydney however this project is absolutely out of keeping with a beautiful iconic area of Sydney that should be preserved for generations to come . With the range of major projects in the vicinity reaching latter stages of approval, the whole suburb risks total degradation. A high density 20 story tower within the Lavender Bay Conservation Area will sadly destroy the last remaining heritage character of the area. Clearly existing residents will be prejudiced hugely by this colossal development. The Lavender Bay area will suffer additional widespread overshadowing. Traffic congestion will only get worse in the Miller and Mackenzie Street areas and on street parking (which is already inadequate) will degenerate further. To strike the balance between aesthetics, existing resident rights and the need for extra accommodation, developments should be capped at reasonable heights so that the character of the neighbourhood can be maintained and traffic and overshadowing kept to a minimum. This area is an asset for the city and a key part of the green lung of the city so should be preserved as such. For this area in particular I believe a 5 storey height limit should be the absolute maximum.

I object to SSD-88702457 in its current form. I support additional housing, including affordable housing, but a 20-storey tower is far too large for this site and would overwhelm the heritage character of Lavender Bay and the setting of St Francis Xavier Church.

As a nearby resident, I am also concerned about increased traffic, road safety, parking pressure and years of construction disruption. These impacts cannot be properly assessed in isolation from the other major development proposed nearby under SSD-86797708. Both projects would affect the same narrow streets, intersections, parking, pedestrians and local services.

The Department should assess their combined impact and either refuse this application or require a major redesign with substantially reduced height, bulk and density, adequate on-site parking and enforceable construction controls.

I object to the height of the building in front of 5 Blue Street. it will be much taller than the Zurich building, when it should be stepping down in height to create a smoother transition to the low rise homes in Lavender Bay. This proposal will create an extension of North Sydney and will lead the way for high rise all the way down to the water.

The proposal compromises the cultural heritage of the site. The bulk and scale of the proposed buildings will be overbearing on the church and old school building.

I object to the R4 zoning request. R4 zoning which will allow resident parking stickers to those without a car space. This development is being sought because it is close to public transport. None of the residents should have car.

I have two comments in relation to the proposed development as set out below.
1) During the period of redevelopment, the proposed use of Mackenzie Street as the main access and thoroughfare to / from the building sites is a flawed plan given the current size, structure and nature of this street. This will cause much disruption to the neighbourhood and cause angst with elder residents, inconvenience for other residents and tenants potentially departing leased investment properties. Overall, this street cannot be used as the main access and throughfare for this redevelopment project.
2) The size and scare of the redevelopment, which is frankly in a low rise residential pocket of Sydney will change the very nature of the suburb, area and the entire lower north shore of Sydney. Impacts on existing property owners and residents will include shadowing (from the new taller buildings), excessive numbers of people using existing infrastructure (train at North Sydney / pavement / shops etc.) and access to parking will be significantly reduced. The proposed plans don't seem to address some of these issues from the perspective of an owner in the immediate area.
Whilst we are supportive of development, the plans during the period of construction as well as the planned structures themselves need reconsideration from the perspective of residents in MacKenzie Street (and surrounds) and the immediate impact on these people.