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Wednesday 12 July 2023
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Mordi Village showcase A dance workshop by Glittery Tapping Wonderland (pictured left) is just one of the activities that will be on offer at the “A Day in Mordi Village” event next weekend. See story page 4. Picture: Supplied
Panel recommends higher housing limits Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au AN independent panel has recommended that Kingston Council raise some height limits in its long-awaited housing strategy. Kingston Council’s housing strategy and neighbourhood character study has been in development for more than five years. The draft strategy was considered by an independent planning panel, which has now released its findings.
In the 2021 draft strategy approved by Kingston Council 77.24 percent of land in the Kingston municipality was zoned “neighbourhood residential”, limiting development to two storeys. The panel recommended zoning small areas of Clayton South, Parkdale and Edithvale as “general residential” instead, raising their height limits to three storeys. The panel’s report also recommends that council scale back its drafted balcony sizes and tree planting requirements. Kingston Council will consider mak-
ing the changes at an August meeting. If the proposed changes to the strategy are approved, the planning scheme amendment will then be sent to planning minster Sonya Kilkenny for final approval. Kingston mayor Hadi Saab said the strategy targeted “key activity centres”. “As always, we remain committed to ensuring Kingston is well planned, with any future growth centred in and around our key activity centres, close to public transport, shops, and services to allow us to protect the amenity of our neighbourhood streets,” Saab said.
“Thanks to all the members of the community who have participated in this important process up until now, including making submissions. We are looking forward to having a resolution soon and moving forward with our action plan for carefully balancing how we manage population growth in our city.” The panel’s report read that more changes could be on the way in the future. “Council and the community need to recognise that the current work will not be the last say on housing intensification in Kingston. The work will need to be reviewed in the future and
in all likelihood that review will identify further areas for intensification, and potentially taller development in existing areas identified for intensification, as Melbourne continues to grow and change,” it read. “Three-storey development including three-storey apartment development has an important role to play in meeting Melbourne’s housing needs and this form of development can sit comfortably next to single storey development if designed well.” To read the panel’s full report visit yourkingstonyoursay.com.au/c203