Council Minutes - Town of Cambridge

COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2011
Our property is built within an upon sand dune landscape where severe and dramatic
contour changes occur. The area in question has not been contoured and graded to iron
out these dramatic changes as would be the case within a new estate in a present day
scenario.
The size of the lots within this precinct assist in lessening the impact of building form
when considering visual bulk and scale, ventilation and sunlight and privacy matters.
Neighbour submission
Comments were received from owner of the adjoining property to the south and is summarised
below:-
Submission one (7 Hovea Crescent)
I wish to strongly object to the proposed height of the retaining walls as well as to the wall
to the top of the eaves because I believe these will completely obliterate any sunshine
falling on much of my property during the autumn, winter and spring months. In addition, I
am afraid that this proposal will severely diminish the value of my property.
Assessment against the performance criteria
Excavation or Fill
Maximum filling behind street
setback line
Proposed
Maximum of 2.964 metres
along rear boundary
Acceptable development provision
0.5 metres
Performance criteria:
Development that retains the visual impression of the natural level of a site, as seen from the street or
other public place, or from an adjoining property.
The subject property slopes from front to rear and from left side to right side approximately 2.0
metres. The adjoining property to the west has recently been developed and has filled the rear
of the property so that there is an existing high retaining wall along the western boundary. The
subject property shares a rear boundary with three different properties along both Hesperia
Avenue and Hovea Crescent. Due to the slope of the land, the retaining wall abutting the
Hesperia Avenue property ranges in height from 0 to 2.964 metres. Two retaining walls are
proposed along the section of rear boundary abutting No. 7 Hovea Crescent. The bottom
retaining wall (on the boundary) is 1.15 metre high with a second retaining wall being set 1.0
metre in off the boundary to allow for a planter to be provided. This retaining wall is 1.4 metres
higher than the first retaining wall and would have the 1.8 metre dividing fence on top of it. The
design allows for the bulk of the wall to be broken up as viewed from the adjoining property.
The retaining wall to the third adjoining property to the rear is 2.0 metres long and 1.9 metres as
viewed from the adjoining property. It is noted that there is a large shed in the rear corner of the
adjoining property which will reduce the impact of the proposed retaining wall.
The proposed fill to the rear of the site will not impact on the visual impression of the natural
level of the site as seen from the street. Whilst there will be obvious fill of the site as viewed
from the adjoining properties to the rear, the applicant has attempted to reduce its impact by
layering the retaining and using planters. It is considered that the fill and retaining will improve
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