Maitland council has approved 24 single-storey housing units for a site in Thompson Street, East Maitland despite an eleventh hour plea from residents for the application to be reassessed.
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Coucillors were unanimous in their decision at Tuesday night’s meeting, some saying the development ticked all the boxes.
One of the site owners Hilton Grugeon addressed the meeting and said it was amazing how people who lived in multi-housing developments suddenly saw a similar plan as an invasion of privacy and an over development.
“They say it’s not in keeping with the locality but straight over the fence is another multi-dwelling site,” he said.
Cr Peter Garnham moved council approve the development because it complied with all regulations.
He said it was not an over development of the site and that in fact Mr Grugeon could have applied for a 30-unit development comprising some two-storey dwellings.
Cr Arch Humphery said these types of developments were much needed in the community.
But residents who spoke in public access said they had concerns about traffic, privacy and sewerage, all issues the meeting was told had been addressed by council planners.
Resident Joanne Barden said councillors needed to take into account the impact the development would have on residents.
Another resident Rhonda Bartlett said residents were not against development in general but appealed for a deferral so councillors could hear residents’ concerns.
She said the development would not blend in with the surrounding community, would be in close proximity to existing homes and would create traffic and pedestrian problems.