I wish to raise my concerns regarding the proposed 8‑storey and 5‑storey buildings planned approximately 800 m from the St Ives Town Centre. As a resident living within roughly 400 m of the site, I believe the scale of this development significantly exceeds the building heights envisaged for this part of St Ives. The excessive height and bulk will negatively impact the visual amenity of the surrounding neighbourhood, which is characterised by single and double‑storey homes.

The proposal will also affect residents on both sides of the development. In particular, it will overshadow homes in College Crescent and reduce sunlight and outlook for units and balconies in the adjoining Alcove complex.

Additionally, the increased number of vehicles entering and exiting College Crescent will worsen existing traffic issues in what is already a narrow and constrained street. Even though I live slightly further away, this traffic impact will likely extend into my area as well.

For these reasons, I do not believe the proposed height and density are appropriate for the local character or for the amenity of nearby residents.

1. Introduction
I am writing to formally object to the proposed development on College Crescent, St Ives.
My family has lived at 18 College Crescent for the past ten years in a multigenerational household comprising my elderly parents, my spouse and our children. We chose this home because of its quiet environment, open outlook and reliable access to natural sunlight, all of which are important to our family's wellbeing.

The proposed development will significantly reduce our quality of life through overshadowing, increased traffic and parking pressures, and the loss of residential amenity.

2. Overshadowing Impacts on Household Wellbeing
The front portion of our home, including the main bedroom and private open space, is expected to experience significant overshadowing from the proposed development.

Health Considerations
My elderly parents occupy the main bedroom at the front of the house. This room currently receives substantial winter afternoon sunlight, helping to maintain warmth, dryness and ventilation.
My father suffers from chronic health conditions, including chronic depression, and spends much of his day in this room and on the adjoining deck. Access to sunlight is important to his comfort and wellbeing.
Loss of sunlight would:
• Leave the room colder and darker;
• Increase the risk of dampness and mould;
• Reduce natural ventilation; and
• Negatively affect my father's wellbeing.
Photographs taken in July this year at approximately 2:30pm show that the existing boundary fence casts minimal shadow and does not affect the main bedroom.

Private Open Space
Our front private open space is used daily for gardening, drying laundry and outdoor activities. My mother's primary hobby is gardening, and this area was one of the key reasons we purchased the property.
Afternoon sunlight, particularly in winter, is essential to its use. Overshadowing would significantly reduce the usability of this space and adversely affect our family's enjoyment of the property.

Overall Impact
The proposed overshadowing will materially reduce our living conditions, thermal comfort, and access to sunlight, which is central to our family's daily life.

3. Traffic and Parking Impacts
Our household currently owns three vehicles, with a fourth likely to be required when our youngest daughter begins driving. Although we have a tandem garage, practical constraints mean that at least two vehicles regularly need to be parked on the street.
Parking conditions are already highly constrained.

Existing Conditions
• Students from Masada College fully occupy the unrestricted parking side of College Crescent.
• School drop-off and pick-up periods create congestion and safety concerns.
• Visitors often struggle to find nearby parking.
• Events at the nearby Chabad facility frequently result in both sides of the street being fully occupied by parked vehicles.
• The proposed upgrade to Bedes Forest Park may increase overflow parking into surrounding streets.
With vehicles parked on both sides of the road, manoeuvring into our driveway can already be difficult and unsafe.

Impact of the Proposed Development
The proposed facility will generate additional traffic and parking demand from residents, staff, visitors, allied health providers, hydrotherapy users and service vehicles.
This will place further pressure on an already congested area and is likely to result in:
• Increased traffic congestion;
• Reduced parking availability for residents;
• Increased noise; and
• Reduced safety for motorists and pedestrians.

The Traffic Impact Assessment appears to underestimate the cumulative effect of existing parking demand generated by Masada College, Chabad events and current residential parking needs.

4. Loss of Amenity and Neighbourhood Character
One of the main reasons we purchased our home was the open outlook from our living room and deck.
The proposed five-storey and eight-storey buildings will replace this open aspect with a dominant built form, reducing privacy and visual amenity.
The development will:
• Reduce visual amenity;
• Increase noise and activity levels;
• Reduce privacy; and
• Fundamentally alter the character of College Crescent.

5. Conclusion
The proposed development will have a significant adverse impact on our household.
The loss of winter sunlight will affect the health and wellbeing of my elderly parents, reduce the usability of our private open space and diminish the comfort of our home. Increased traffic and parking pressures will worsen existing congestion and safety concerns, while the scale of the development will substantially affect local amenity and neighbourhood character.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that the consent authority refuse the proposal or require significant amendments to minimise overshadowing, traffic and parking impacts on neighbouring residents.

Attachment Schedule and Supporting Evidence
Attachment 1 – Existing Outlook from Deck (4 August 2026, 9:00am)
Current open outlook from our front deck. Demonstrates the visual amenity that would be replaced by the proposed buildings.
Attachments 2-4 – Main Bedroom Sunlight Access (26 July 2026, 2:30pm)
These photographs show that the existing boundary fence casts minimal shadow and that the main bedroom currently receives direct winter afternoon sunlight. Photograph 4 shows the chair where my father regularly sits.
Attachment 5 – Private Open Space (26 July, 2:30pm)
Shows the current sunlight reaching our front private open space, which is used for gardening, drying laundry, and family activities.
Attachment 6 – Traffic Congestion During School Drop-Off (26 March 2026, 9:00am)
Demonstrates existing congestion and safety issues caused by vehicles parked on both sides of the street.
Attachment 7 – Parking Demand During Chabad Event (26 July, 2:45pm)
Shows both sides of College Crescent fully occupied by parked vehicles, demonstrating existing parking pressures.
Attachment 8 – Video Demonstrating Student Parking Impacts (29 July, 9:00am)
Shows the extent of on-street parking by Masada College students and supports concerns that existing parking demand has been underestimated.

Please find attached the Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment Inc (FOKE) submission for SSD-98363228 Montefiore Seniors Housing ,19-25 College Crescent and 15-19 Link Road St Ives

As a local resident, I believe this planned development is completely out of character with the surrounding environment. I would note the similar recently completed developments just up the road (corner of Yarrabung & Killeaton St, and also corner of Killeaton St & Mona Vale Rd, both of which have already contributed to increased traffic congestion & noise. The proposed development, at up to 9 stories tall, will tower over neighbouring properties, and the significant scale of the construction will contribute to unacceptable traffic congestion & noise pollution. The roads in this area (e.g. Yarrabung Rd, Stanley St) already carry significant traffic volumes due to the nearby schools (at least 3 schools in the immediate neighbourhood). And any development is NEVER accompanied by any improvement in the existing infrastructure which is already stretched. St Ives is already well over-served with seniors facilities. There must be at least 6 similar facilities within 1km of this proposed development. While it's important that we cater for senior citizens, I feel that the proposed development is completely disproportionate considering the character of the local neighbourhood & is completely disrespectful of the local residents. Thank you for considering this submission.

Comments:
- no transition from Single and two storey homes in surrounding low density neighbourhood
- excessive building height and scale obvious overdevelopment for area.
- incorrect setbacks, too close to college cres especially south end as land has been raised to level oval.
- excessive over shadowing to residential homes in college cres.
- overdevelopment for a narrow street that already supports.
- 2 synagogues
- 80 place kindergarten
-13 townhouses 15-17 college cres
-28 units/ townhouses 7-11 college cres
-118 bed estia aged care
Cnr yarrabung and colleges cres
-12 residential houses
- pollution from increase traffic
- traffic is clogged with school pickup and drop off.
-synagogue events
- including Stanley st
It's obvious this development should not be approved in its current form as this will have a huge impact on the area

I am submitting my objection to State Significant Development Application SSD-98363228 (Montefiore Seniors Housing, 19–25 College Crescent, St Ives), as set out in the attached submission document.

Please see attached submission letter that I am submitting on behalf of my mother, Connie Cheung-Tong, who resides at 16 college crescent, St Ives NSW 2075.

My objection to the Montefiore Senior Housing is for many reasons. Firstly, the entrance from Links Rd which is already a main thoroughfare & to increase traffic at the proposed development access will create many problems, school pick up & drop off, safety for school children, increased traffic into Stanley St roundabout & increased parking in local streets. St Ives is not a suburb with adequate transport infrastructure , only car & bus. Already it is well " above its weight" with many recently built apartment buildings, built on single dwelling sites & thus creating major traffic problems. As for Senior Housing once again, St Ives has many nearby, in many forms from independent to assisted living to full-time care.
Ku-ring-gai has always prided itself on its leafy residential & beautiful environment & while I know we need more housing I feel strongly Montefiore Senior Housing should not be given approval.
Regards
Alison Pratten

The area is already busy especially at school timings and the height does not fit in with the low rise density of the surrounding area. There is already an aged care house on link road and so this will furthermore increase traffic and noise.
There is already enough security guards and traffic jams from current vehicular and pedestrian access point.
I also find the security staff intimidating and whilst waiting for the local bus stop was once asked what I am doing in the area.
This development is not in line with the local area. There is already enough units in the area.
I strongly object to this proposal.

I support the provision of well-designed seniors housing. However, given the scale of this proposal, I request that the Environmental Impact Statement comprehensively assess the following key issues.

1. Height, Scale and Neighbourhood Character
The proposed development appears significantly larger than surrounding development. The EIS should demonstrate that the proposed height and density are the minimum necessary to achieve the project's objectives and consider whether a lower-scale design could provide the same outcome with less impact on the surrounding neighbourhood.

2. Traffic and Transport
A detailed traffic assessment should consider the impacts on Stanley Street, College Crescent and surrounding intersections, including school traffic, pedestrian safety, parking and the cumulative impacts of other developments in St Ives.

3. Tree Canopy and Landscaping
The EIS should minimise the loss of mature trees and demonstrate how the area's valued tree canopy and landscape character will be protected and enhanced.

4. Residential Amenity
The EIS should assess overshadowing, privacy, visual bulk and noise impacts on neighbouring properties, together with measures to minimise these impacts.

5. Construction and Cumulative Impacts
The EIS should address construction traffic, noise, dust and excavation impacts, and assess the cumulative effect of this proposal alongside other significant developments in St Ives.

Given the scale of the proposal, I request that the Department require a comprehensive and transparent assessment of these matters to ensure the development achieves an appropriate balance between providing much-needed seniors housing and protecting the character, environment and amenity of St Ives.