AN online petition has been launched against proposed retirement village at Somerville even though it has been knocked back by Mornington Peninsula Shire.
The proposed development, at 16 Graf Rd and Beaconsfield Court, Somerville, is a 223-unit facility of two and three storeys in 11 separate buildings.
The planning knock back was described by petition organisers as a “good result for the Somerville community in general”.
But with the possibility that the applicant will appeal, organisers say there is a need to keep the petition going.
Organiser Lyn Cleary said more signatures were needed “to back our council if this proceeds to VCAT” (the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal)
The applicant, CBG Architects, of St Kilda, refused to comment on a possible appeal last week.
The petition describes the proposal as bring “out of character for our semi-rural town which is predominantly single-storey dwellings”.
It claims advertising was “misleading” and the time frame for lodging objections – eight days – was “unreasonable”.
“There is no precedent for a multi-level retirement village on the peninsula,” the petition states.
“Blocks E and F (of three storeys) are to be situated on the higher elevation of the land and will be visually overpowering on the landscape.”
The petition cites increased traffic congestion on Graf Rd, drainage from the site onto Eramosa Rd West not being addressed, and the local fire brigade not being equipped to handle multi-level building fires, as other sticking points.
CBG Architects had told the shire that the buildings would be a staged development over the next five years. The petition claims this time frame “will be disruptive to the local community”.
“For the next 15-20 years this proposed development will look like an industrial area until trees mature,” the petition states.
“There will be a total lack of privacy and a loss of morning sunlight to properties on the western boundary.”
The petition can be accessed at change.org
First published in the Western Port News – 30 June 2015
