Residential Flat Building with In-fill Affordable Housing - Park Ave, Gordon

Please find attached my objection.

Please find attached my objection to this proposal.

Please see attached file including my objection to the SSD
As outlines the proposal is proposed overdevelopment of the site, excessive height, poor design, ignores heritage , is against Council recommendations , ignores public sentiment, will result in overload of infrastructure. The proposal in its current form must be rejected and a lower scale development involving a stepped back height from Park Avenue considered.

I believe that this proposal—comprising over 100 apartments—represents an excessive concentration of density in a single location. Such a high-density development would result in disproportionate building height and an over-concentration of residents, which in turn could significantly strain local traffic conditions and existing infrastructure.
Residential development in Gordon should be more balanced and distributed across the neighbourhood. The existing Transit Oriented Development (TOD) planning controls, which provide for a Floor Space Ratio (FSR) of 2.5:1 and a maximum building height of 21 metres, are far more appropriate for this area. Thank you.

SSD-78775458- The Proposed over height, excessive density housing project has no consideration or respect
for the Heritage Preservation of Gordon.

The development surrounds my property significantly impacting my enjoyment of my property.
It encloses my house from the north and the east. It is 30 meters high and has 100 apartments overlooking into my backyard and into my windows. This is a severe invasion of my privacy.
The apartment buildings will block my beautiful morning sun from my east and will block sunlight from my north for the remainder of the day. I will be living in the shadow entirely.
The project will be highly detrimental to my way of life. I will have lost my privacy completely. I would also be robbed of all daylight.

I also object to the development on the basis that it is completely against the council's preferred scenario now under consideration by the state government. Under council's planning, the same land can only be 5 stories tall, rather than 30 metres as proposed by this project. The current plan is inconsistent with the council's vision of a cohesively and responsibly planned future. Approval of this project will set a dangerous precedent of allowing poorly designed and poorly planned ragtag developments that damage the neighbourhood.
I strongly object to this proposal.

1. The height of the proposed development at 3 - 9 Park Avenue, Gordon is grossly in excess of the height of any reasonable redevelopment of this attractive part of the east side of Gordon. It will set a precedent that will lead to a scale of redevelopment of the area that will not be compatible with any consideration of heritage values or of living conditions for present and future residents.
2.Street-parking for commuters and residents will become an even more difficult situation than we have now. The streets of Gordon within 400 m of the station are full of commuters' vehicles now, even with the provision of commuter car parks at the station. The scale of the proposed development would add greatly to street-parking and traffic problems throughout east Gordon.

I object to the project the following reasons:
1. Inconsistent with Ku-ring-gai planning. The proposal does not comply with Ku-ring-gai's planning principles of supporting new housing without sacrificing our heritage and natural environment. The council's planning is created following extensive consultation with the community. The development, with its excessive height and density is entirely inconsistent with council's planning.
2. Isolation of heritage homes. Positioned adjacent to and opposite heritage sites dating back to the 19th century, the development will destroy the heritage value and culture of our neighbourhood. The development also overlooks my own property which is also a heritage item and negatively affects me personally.
3. Excessive height and poor-design. The proposed project is over-sized for the area. The height is excessive, overlooking houses that are within heritage conservation areas, invading residential privacy. The development is adjacent to several heritage listed items. This does not only create privacy problems, it negatively impacts the value of these items and is therefore extremely unfair to the owners of these properties.
4. Traffic and infrastructure overload. With 100 households cramped into such a small area, the development will cause significant congestion. This is exacerbated by the fact that Park Lane is a narrow single lane way.

Dear Sir/Madam
As a nearby resident of Gordon, I am writing to raise my concerns regarding the proposed major residential development at Park Avenue, Gordon.
While I recognise the need for greater residential housing development, I believe that this particular proposal—comprising over 100 apartments—represents an excessive concentration of density in a single location. Such a high-density development would result in disproportionate building height and an over-concentration of residents, which in turn could significantly strain local traffic conditions and existing infrastructure.
In my opinion, residential development in Gordon should be more balanced and distributed across the neighbourhood. The existing Transit Oriented Development (TOD) planning controls, which provide for a Floor Space Ratio (FSR) of 2.5:1 and a maximum building height of 21 metres, are far more appropriate for this area.
For these reasons, I object to the proposed development in its current form. I urge the NSW Planning Department to uphold the existing TOD planning framework and support more sustainable and evenly distributed growth across the area.
Resident of Gordon

I object to the proposal on the following grounds:
1. The development is an overdevelopment of the site and out of proportion to the existing and likely future amenity of the locality.
2. The proposal in incompatible with the heritage conservation area on either side of the Park Ave / Khartoum Ave street block. It is surprising and poor planning that a conservation area does not consider both sides of a street.
3. The height of the building will cause server overshadowing and deprivation of sunlight enjoyed at the adjoining property in Park Lane and adjacent properties in Khartoum Ave for private interests. The extent of the overshadowing is exacerbated by the additional temporary affordable housing bonus. I am not sure that this will be of comfort to the residents of these dwellings. The presumption provided in the report that “at least they will continue to receive at least two hours of solar access at mid-winter. The report fails to indicate the amount of access they would get presently and what they would get if there was no affordable housing bonus. This needs information needs to be provided for transparency. The figure 14 “Potential future context” that would suggest that the overshadowing will be mitigated in the future by redevelopment of those lot with a particular design is pure conjecture and will still condemn the e open space in that speculative design to being shaded in winter.
4. The development will have an adverse impact on the local road network that is already problematic. It is noted that no vehicle counts have been provided in the report (or at least that I could see them).
a. It will result in the cumulative increase in cueing times at the intersection of the Pacific Hwy and Park Street for vehicles wishing to access the Railway car park, but more importantly the Pacific Highway. Park street is only, one of two key access points, for traffic in the Gordon hinterland to access the Pacific Hwy. This intersection is already at an exceptionally low level of services and the proposed development will further compromise the accessibility for the existing community. This development should not be considered until a road and rail underpass have been planned to improve access to the eastern side of the railway to the Pacific Highway.
b. The traffic report fails to appreciate the poor standard of Rosedale Road as a collector road especially between Park Ave and McIntosh Street, which is used for vehicles to access Gordon Station and the alternative route to the Pacific Highway (via St Johns Ave). It is narrow and poorly surfaced with a blackspot for traffic at the corner of Park Ave and Rosedale Road, which is already the location regular accidents. I challenge the veracity of the proposition that Park Ave and Rosedale Road are collector roads when there is a stop sign for vehicles from Park Ave entering Rosedale Road going north.
c. The additional traffic from the proposed development will create further congestion and confusion at the Park Street intersection at the unaligned Werona Ave/Pearson Ave Crossing. Significant traffic.
d. I question the veracity of the
e. The audacity of the Traffic Report to cite cycle facilities is breath taking. While there may be some section where you can cycle, there is no practical cycle network, and you are literally taking your life in your hands cycling on some of the roads cited. Again, no information about the real state of the local roads, which are narrow and poorly surfaced.
5. The affordable housing bonus does not compensate for the additional impact of the development on the community in perpetuity. The affordable housing proposal is inconsistent with the provisions of the Housing SEPP, in that, if the increase density permitted for affordable housing is 30% of the total development, then 50% of that needs to be for affordable housing, which according to S156 (2) needs to be managed by a registered community provider in perpetuity. The proposal is only to provide the affordable housing for a 15-year period, however, the bonus floor space will be in perpetuity. This is will clearly not contribute to long term housing affordability for service workers in the locality.

Thanks

Traffic hazards probability increases tremendously should the project goes ahead, due to very difficult and busy traffic in the junction of Park Avenue and Pearson Avenue.

See attached file.

To Whom it may concern:
Words fail me!!!!
The suburb where the National Trust was ‘born’, the suburb so very proud and protective of its remnant blue gum and turpentine forests and the nearby national parks - a really stunning area! One part of the choice we all enjoy about where we live or visit in Sydney.
We are now expected to roll over like a puppy to have our tummy tickled!!!!
I am not against development but this is disgusting and completely inappropriate as well as insensitive.
If I had wanted to live in high rise apartments I would have bought in another suburb!!! (I’m attempting to stay tactful here….)
This is such a disgraceful, immoral position to be in - and so much for consulting the residents - ha!!!
I have lived in Roseville and Killara during my younger life and moved to Gordon in 1996. Many of my friends have lived here even longer.
After being exhorted to save the trees and protect the fauna around us for generations we are now expected to sit back obediently while these buildings are put up on clear felled sites (because it’s easier and cheaper - I get it). They are all going to be no longer of human scale - the Park Ave suggestion is a frightening example of that!!
Do not build 9 storey buildings on the ridges - way too high. And as well, stop pretending that it’s 9 - it’s actually 10 or more… apart from the shadowing etc etc, the infrastructure is not suitable (or is that part of this disgusting plan? To then swoop in and say now all these elements need to be changed??? Disgraceful!!!). Peak hour congestion on Park Ave at Werona, Pearson and Park is already extremely difficult and would be unimaginably chaotic if this 9-10 level monstrosity went ahead.

Suggestions:

Continue the high rise down the streets already affected on the western side of the highway.

Build along Ryde Road as it heads west, so people can link up with the Metro station at Macquarie Park.

One important suggestion to assist with all my ideas is something my father used to suggest - a good example can be seen working most successfully in Mosman - small perhaps gas or electric buses which go on a prescribed route so people can jump on board when they want to go to the shops and/or the station - it should be a free service and it should cover all the suburbs in fact - why has this never been attempted???
Yours sincerely,
Rosemary Coucouvinis
Concerned long term proud Ku Ring Gai woman.

I am 100% in support of this project.

I believe that it will:

Be an fantastic edition to Gordon & the rest of Sydney's North Shore and really add to the aesthetic feel to the area.

Will encourage more people to use the North Shore & Western line train service

Give people more choice on where they want to live

Why allow such an ugly high rise building on top of a prominent ridge line. It will be so out of place , so alien to existing surrounding low rise housing, and a blight on the general locality. Blues Point Tower at McMahons Point and Coastview Apartments at Diamond Bay ]Vaucluse] are excellent COMPARABLE examples of INAPPROPRIATE development.

What about, as an alternative, building high rise housing on nearby public lands? Like the huge railway and Council car parks in Werona Avenue and Wade Lane that are currently grossly undercapitalised. What about building above the railway line and above Wade Lane? Just as they have at St Leonards. The air space above is way too valuable not to be exploited. And it's free!!!!!!!!!

Ku ring gai Council is offering a LEP that addresses and complies with the TOD proposal to increase housing density.

Park Avenue is notoriously busy and conjested, especially in peak periods. And especially at the junction at Werona Avenue.

Why so many car spaces? Isn't this a TOD development supposedly designed to rely upon the nearby railway and public
transport? It's time we stopped paying homage to the motor car!!!!!!!! Just as the architects did in the highly successful Nightingale Projects in Melbourne.

The facade/architecture looks like walls of crates/boxes stacked one on top of the other. Surely more attention could have been given to the form [aesthetics] of the proposed development.

Life hazards probability increases tremendously in the junction park Ave and Pearson avenue Gordon if the development goes ahead.

The traffic junction on Pearson Avenue,and Park Avenue Gordon has been very busy. Traffic is very difficult. Traffic hazard probability will be much higher if the project goes ahead.

As a resident of Gordon, I’m deeply concerned about the proposed 9-storey development at 3-9 Park Avenue, Gordon. Framing this as a State Significant Development seems like a way to sidestep the recently introduced Transport Oriented Development rules, and in my opinion, is completely out of place for our neighbourhood.

The building’s size and design that reaches over 30 metres, are totally at odds with the low-rise character of Gordon. It would loom over nearby heritage homes and the surrounding Heritage Conservation Area. The inclusion of 'bird cage' balconies and lack of thoughtful architectural detail show little to no respect for the historical legacy of our area.

In addition, I’m also very concerned about the environmental impact. Cutting down more than 50 mature trees would mean a serious loss to our tree canopy and destroy important habitats for local wildlife. Furthermore, adding 100 apartments and 128 car spaces would worsen traffic on our local roads and put more pressure on infrastructure that’s already under strain.

Ultimately, this development doesn’t align with Ku-ring-gai Council’s planning goals, which aim to protect both our heritage and natural environment while still allowing for well-considered new housing. hence, I strongly urge the Independent Planning Commission to reject this proposal and help preserve what makes Gordon a unique community.

I object to this development on the following grounds -
1. Excessive height compared with the surrounding buildings causing shadowing and other problems
2. The development isolates and towers over adjacent Heritage Homes
3. Place a severe strain on local traffic flow and parking.
4. Not consistent with the Ku-ring-gai Council’s Preferred Scenario
5. Cause further overloading of local schools and medical services.

I am writing because we are very concerned about the impact of this project on multiple levels, and believe the developer has used a loophole under the major state project category, to bypass reasonable scrutiny. This project contributes little to affordable housing in the long term, but will have an enormous impact on the area after the time that affordable housing no longer is relevant to that address.

The proposed building is huge in height compared to the building surrounding it, and in a location, close to the top of a hill where is will overshadow, and overpower all the other buildings around it . it will be an eyesore and provide an unpleasant contrast with the neighbourhood. Further a tall building in this location will allow a precedent, and make it easier for others to place building of excessive height near by.
It is the complete antithesis of Ku-ring-gai council development blueprint and NSW governments guidelines for the area

In addition to this, traffic is currently very heavy in the Park Ave area, particularly in the afternoon during peak hour, as many parents come to Gordon station to pick up their children from the train. Traffic also develops close to the childcare centre, and especially for people accessing the highway or Gordon Shops. This development will generate greater traffic gridlock than is currently existing.

The development of this size will have a significant impact on tree cover and wildlife of the area for which Gordon is justifiably well known.

The development will be totally out of character with the area and will be a dangerous precedent for other developments in the area. It is positioned opposite an important heritage site in Gordon and will have a major impact on that heritage value

At no point in time, has Ku ring Gai Council, or the state government given us any information on how they plan to provide the necessary infrastructure that will accompany this significant increase in the population of Gordon. What is likely to occur, is a very large increase in the number of people living here, without providing infrastructure to support them and will have a major ADVERSE impact on the gordon community with marginal if any benefit. This proposal should go through normal Ku-ring-gai Council planning processes and not use subtefuge to bypass these processes

There is no use in saying we are sorry, because sorry is of no use, please Ku Ring Gai Council, grow some sense, and some balls, and live up to your promises.