A controversial seniors housing development proposed for the rural hamlet of Berry Park has been approved.
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Maitland councillors voted in favour of the proposal, lodged by developer Hilton Grugeon, despite strong public opposition.
ALP councillors Loretta Baker, Robert Aitchison and Ben Whiting voted against the plan. ALP Councillor Henry Meskauskas was not present at the meeting.
Fairfax Media reported in September how a small rural lobby group had called on the State to intervene in the original development application process claiming the application should have gone before the Joint Regional Planning Panel.
The Primary Agricultural Land Survival Group tried to determine if Mr Grugeon’s action to have the development approved in two stages (each stage just under the JRPP $20 million cap) was legal.
The latest application was for 88 self contained houses, a community centre and men’s shed. In November 2015 Mr Grugeon lodged an application for 74 homes. Consent was issued in June.
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