Variations to planning standards were just two of the sticking points during the council’s debate. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
A regional council has approved plans for a self-storage facility amid warnings the development would be out of place against other businesses at its chosen site.
At a recent meeting, Queabeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) voted to give conditional approval to a development application (DA) from Kennards Self Storage.
The company lodged plans to build three multi-storey buildings (with units dedicated to enterprise and personal storage), install a 2.4 metre perimeter fence, add an on-site detention tank and upgrade an existing stormwater pit.
The plans also include a series of signs (including an illuminated logo sign) and 31 carparks on the site.
It will be located on a cleared block within the Poplars Innovation Precinct at South Jerrabomberra and be accessible through a shared access driveway on Wolseley Place.
According to council documents, councillors had to vote on the DA because the proposed development is valued at more than $5 million and the DA sought a variation of development standards for height and floor space.
Much of the debate centred on whether the business was suitable for the business park, which was previously subdivided into eight lots.
During the discussion, Councillor Ross MacDonald said that while they should consider the “purpose and intent” behind the precinct when evaluating the DA, that didn’t mean it should be the council’s priority.
“Absolutely, I think we’d be delighted if we were in an enviable position to be knocking back applications meeting that explicit intent and purpose of that ‘innovation and jobs’ [goal].
“The reality is, that is not happening.”
Cr Bill Waterhouse urged his fellow councillors to consider the DA on its own merits.
“This is again, one of those issues where we can only knock this back on planning grounds,” he said.
“My understanding is this is an innovation hub … but this is a clean and quiet development, relatively speaking.”
Mayor Kenrick Winchester said QPRC needed to be careful when making this “very difficult” decision.
“If a storage company wants to build there and they’re allowed to under the planning system, that’s what they should be allowed to do.
“We can’t go out saying that, potentially, other businesses in the area won’t like it. The Land and Environment Court’s going to laugh us out of court.”
Cr Bryce Wilson was one of several councillors who spoke about their belief the proposal was inconsistent with the area.
He argued the community was “sold a place of high tech and research facilities” for the precinct, saying that a self-storage facility went against that premise.
“No one’s ever stopped me and said, ‘Gee, we need more self-storage in Jerrabomberra.'”
He also argued the area’s amenity would be affected, pointing to proposed pylons and the facility’s colours of orange and blue.
Council documents state that, following the first round of community consultation on the DA, the facade colours were changed and the signage reduced.
The DA also sought variations to planning policy to cover two places where the building height would exceed the 12 metre height limit, as well as a 20 per cent floor space increase.
Both of these would be in the one spot (Building B), with meeting documents describing these as having no adverse impact on either amenity, landscaping or environmental considerations.
Worries around the proposal’s suitability for the site were echoed by Cr Katrina Willis.
“There really doesn’t seem to be anything particularly innovative about this proposal for an innovation precinct,” she said.
She argued that approving the proposal risked leaving residents and community groups “perplexed” about why the council wasn’t delivering on their promised vision for the precinct.
“What’s the point of a vision and a masterplan if we’re told the planning scheme doesn’t enable us to give effect to it?
“It’s a rhetorical question because no one can answer it tonight [at the meeting], but I do think it’s a serious question.”
Council documents state that storage facilities are allowed under the site’s zoning.
Crs Morgan Broadbent, Esma Livermore, Macdonald, Steve Taskovski, Waterhouse and Winchester voted in support of the DA, while Crs Mareeta Grundy, John Preston, Willis and Wilson opposed it.
