Plans for a 42-room boarding house at Thornton are tipped for refusal when the application goes before Maitland City councillors this week.
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The development application, which is located at Burnham Road, seeks consent for the demolition of two existing dwellings and associated outbuildings and the construction of four three-storey boarding house each with 11 studio rooms.
The application proposes the construction of four single boarding rooms (three of which will be accessible rooms), 38 double boarding rooms, a manager's residence, communal area on the top floor, 33 car parks, eight motorcycle parks, eight bicycle parking spots as well as two communal laundries.
The rooms would consist of a kitchen area, bathroom, living area/couch space and balcony while the three accessible rooms will not have a living area/couch space but a laundry.
A total of 57 submissions were received during the exhibition period all objecting to the proposed development.
Following the submission of amended plans and documentation, the proposal was renotified for a period of 14 days from April 14 to April 26, 2021.
During this exhibition period a total of 31 submissions were received, 28 of which were objecting to the proposed development and three in support.
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Some of the concerns raised by the community included noise, parking, garbage collection, security, density and privacy.
A council report said the application, which was originally lodged on June 8, 2018, was recommended for refusal for a number of reasons including insufficient information to enable a detailed assessment of the impact of the development; character of the area and over development of the site; amenity; inconsistencies with council's plans and policies as well as community concerns.
"Council raised significant concern regarding the proposal and that it was considered an over development of the site and not suitable in regard to the existing residential developments in the area and the character of the area," the report said.
"More specifically, it was raised that the proposed physical impacts of the development on the surrounding area are not considered acceptable and the development is considered to not be compatible with the character of the local area.
"Further, the application is not considered to be in the public interest as identified by the representations made by the community.
Maitland City Council will review the development application at its ordinary meeting on Tuesday night.
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