TOD - 378-398 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest

Refer to following attachment

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on SSD-79240223. Please see the attached response and information sheet for the applicant.

I continue to object to this project, despite the many compliance boxes seemingly ticked in the development application.
My objections relate to governmental underpinnings of the process as well as factors not taken into consideration in the design of new high rise buildings.
1. The overshadowing and solar compliance hours are set far too low and so are easy to meet. The fact is that overshadowing is cumulative and although one building may meet these low set hours, when a cluster of high buildings goes up, the hours without solar access are incrementally increased. Our building has already lost 1.5 hours of sun from the north, in winter between 1pm and 3 pm, and now we are to lose up to two hours of so lar access from 9am in mid-winter with this development. This will increase even further when buildings go up over Crows Nest Metro. There is no consideration of overall loss in approval of developments.
2. My understanding is that buildings under TOD are exempt from considerations of extra traffic generation. This is irresponsible on the part of the government planning authority. 132 car spaces plus some additional commercial spaces, will result in a large numbers of cars entering and exiting the building from Hume Street. At a minimum, consideration needs to be given to the timing of the traffic lights at the Pacific Highway/Hume Street intersection. The timing is short for current needs (there is a camera on these lights) and certainly would need to be reviewed with extra traffic turning into and coming out of the new development.
3. There is a shortfall of approximately 46 spaces (178 residential apartments) . Where will residents in the building without car space park their cars? This is likely to put unacceptable pressure on surrounding streets.
4. As for the issue of design. It is one thing to claim no current biodiversity on the site. However, the Pacific Highway ridge is a significant bird flight corridor. It seems to me that no attention in the design to use of bird safe glass. Bird strike is very common in precincts with high rise buildings and for this reason Birdlife Australia encourages the use of bird safe glass in building design. It would be to the credit of the building's architects to set high standards in this regard.
https://theconversation.com/buildings-kill-millions-of-birds-heres-how-to-reduce-the-toll-130695

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the application.

16 June 2025
Proposed Development 378-398 Pacific Hwy, Crows Nest (SSD-79240223)
I object to the scale of the project proposed for 378-398 Pacific Hwy, Crows Nest
(SSD-79240223).
I thought the previous submission was too high at 31 storeys and to now see it has been resubmitted at 40 storeys which seems incredibly excessive. I believe all towers along the highway should be limited to a maximum of 15 storeys to minimise the effect of overshadowing and stop them from creating a dark wind tunnel as is happening at St Leonards. This could then transition down from the highway to River Road where the area has been rezoned to between 6 and 12 storeys. I understood originally this was a transition zone but going from 30-40 storeys on the highway to 12 storeys a block back from the highway doesn't achieve that. These buildings will create a giant wall down the middle of our suburb and threaten the character of the area. I feel Wollstonecraft is already punching above its weight for density and am not objecting to further development but keep it in scale so it complements and not destroys the neighbourhood.
I realise the government wants to get maximum housing in a short amount of time but to do this by allowing tower blocks way out of proportion to the surrounding area will result in long-term damage and will be at the expense of the resident’s quality of life and that is something that can never be replaced. As well as this, the impact of these high-rise towers on our already struggling infrastructure, schools and hospitals will be catastrophic.
Access to these proposed buildings will involve more traffic congestion (which is already happening at Oxley Street) and I anticipate that Nicholson Street and Hume Street will be used even more as a 'rat run' and a much-overused access point creating even more congestion.
As I have mentioned before, part of this site would be better used to create a portal into the new Metro with a pedestrian tunnel under the highway – possibly in the 3-storey commercial podium. A tunnel would improve safety for the Wollstonecraft residents when crossing the Pacific Highway to the Metro. As well as providing access, it would also mean more foot traffic past the shops and businesses in the podium – surely a win-win situation. With even more apartments slated for this area it would be a vital and safer link.
Above this you could build apartments (especially if it includes social as well as affordable housing) but not to the height proposed.
There appears to be no setback or much-needed green space around the building (something that seems to be shrinking with each new development) and it really shows no architectural merit – another cookie-cutter, characterless 'box' of a building. Surely our town planners and architects can do better.
I live in hope that the residents may have a say on how our suburb evolves but sadly it doesn’t seem to be the case. It appears that only the developers voice is heard by our government. A very sad reflection on democracy and the future of the Crows Nest, Wollstonecraft and its environs.

I oppose the project for the following reasons:
1. the area is already congested particularly when trying to turn into Pacific Highway at peak times;
2. the only sunlight that my apartment gets is in early morning and if project goes area it will completely remove any sunshine reaching my flat;
3. I will lose substantial views from my property;
4. the proposed project is over 9 meters over what has been approved by NSW government; and
5. finally, whilst I appreciate the need for more housing, having so many high rises in one area risks turning the area into a ghetto attracting only certain groups and would not support a diverse and vibrant community of all ages and cultural backgrounds.

This project will provide much needed affordable housing, helping to alleviate the housing crisis within Sydney.

However, the amount of parking proposed is excessive, due to its location next to Crows Nest metro station, and excellent access to local amenities and employment opportunities through the use of public and active transport. The amount of car parking has necessitated a deep 8 level basement, which adds to construction costs and makes the dwellings less affordable, which is a key issue during a housing crisis. Despite the project meeting the parking limits under the Crows Nest Transport Oriented Development Precinct Design Guide, the applicant should still consider reducing the provision of parking.

Despite this, the project looks amazing and will be a wonderful addition to the North Sydney and St Leonards area.

I’m the owner of a property in the building 545 Pacific Highway. I don’t support the project.

I am writing to formally lodge an objection to the proposed development. I am deeply concerned about the significant impact this proposed 40-storey building will have on the character of the area and the amenity of surrounding residents.

Firstly, this 40 storey building would be one of the tallest in the area. I am deeply concerned about the substantial loss of scenic views toward the Sydney CBD and Sydney Harbour that impacts almost every apartment building in the area. It also reduces the open outlook and natural light residents currently benefit from. The views are a main selling point of the apartments in the area but the construction of this building would greatly diminish their value.

Furthermore, the proposed height and proximity to other apartments will severely impact the privacy of nearby residents. Residents that previously enjoyed open outlook would now have people looking directly into their homes hence decreasing the livability of the overall area.

Next, the proposal planned for 140 car spaces for 178 apartments, or 1 car space for every 140 square metres of residential floor area. This translates to approximately, 1 car space for every 3 bedrooms. This is vastly insufficient and residents would need to find car parking elsewhere. This would further exacerbate the parking difficulties in the St Leonards and Crows Nest area. Local businesses would suffer as their customers could not find parking and reduce the overall livability of the local area.

Lastly, the transport oriented developments proposed by the NSW government, as seen in Chapter 5 Transport Oriented Development of the State Enviroment Planning Policy (Housing), clearly aims to deliver mid-rise residential flat buildings, up to 6 storeys, with a maximum height of 22m to 24m. This proposal for a 40 storey residential apartment is clearly against the intentions of transport oriented development. In terms of high rise residential buildings, there has been no change in policy. Similar proposals in 2022 have already been refused and this proposal should also be refused.

I respectfully urge the council to consider the adverse impacts this development will have on the local community, and to reject the proposal in order to preserve the character, amenity, and livability of our neighbourhood as well as the aims of the NSW government.

I object to this project for the following reasons:
1. Visual impact. The building sticks out like a sore thumb and out of character for the Crows Nest area. This is particular evident by the narrow land envelope it covers - trying to shoehorn a 40 story sky-scraper. Towers of this sort besides being an eyesore doesn't really serve the needs of the growing community - where apartments are dominated by expensive 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and not fit for families.
2. Wind tunnel. The scale of the building in conjunction with the over metro developments will significantly add to the wind tunnel effect of Pacific Highway making it an unpleasant place to walk.
3. Traffic. The entry to the carpark on Hume Street makes no sense, as it is right where the traffic light is so exiting cars have no where to go when the light is red (which is most often). In addition cars turning into Hume St from the Highway can't turn into the car park as it will be blocked by other cars sitting at the lights on Hume Street. Why you would cater for 100+ spaces if you are right next to the Metro?