MEETING OF COUNCIL - Town of Cambridge

COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2012
The lot is constrained by the relatively small frontage of 10.0 metres and lot size of 293m² so
providing adequate living area for the residents as well as maintaining the R-Codes
requirements in terms of boundary setbacks is difficult. The applicant has attempted to
provide increased living area on the lot without having a significant detrimental impact on the
streetscape or surrounding dwellings.
Overall in view of the above comments, it is considered that the proposed setback of the
development from the left/western boundary is acceptable and complies with the
performance criteria for the following reasons:-
• provides adequate direct sun and ventilation to the building;
• ensures adequate direct sun and ventilation being available to adjoining properties.
Visual privacy
Upper floor
Master bedroom setback
from left/western boundary
Proposed
Acceptable development
provision
3.1 metres 4.5 metres
Performance criteria:
Direct overlooking of active habitable spaces and outdoor living areas of other dwellings is
minimised by building layout, location and design of major openings and outdoor active
habitable spaces, screening devices and landscape, or remoteness.
Effective location of major openings and outdoor active habitable spaces to avoid
overlooking is preferred to the use of screening devices or obscured glass.
Where these are used, they should be integrated with the building design and have minimal
impact on residents’ or neighbours’ amenity.
Where opposite windows are offset from the edge of one window to the edge of another, the
distance of the offset should be sufficient to limit views into adjacent windows.
The master bedroom will face to the rear/north of the lot and not directly into the adjoining
property to the west. Direct overlooking into the western neighbours' active outdoor living
area does not occur because the dwelling on the adjoining lot extends past the proposed
bedroom window. The view from the bedroom window will view into the side wall of the
dwelling to the west. The master bedroom window will not overlook any habitable rooms on
the adjoining lot to the west.
In addition, the master bedroom window will be screened from the adjoining lots outdoor
living area to the west by a number of trees along the common boundary.
The proposal allows the dwelling to maximise the access to the direct sun from habitable
rooms on the lot. The design has minimised the impact on adjoining lots by situating the
windows on the rear of the property and 1 metre away from the western side of the dwelling.
H:\CEO\GOV\COUNCIL MINUTES\12 MINUTES\NOVEMBER 2012\B DV.DOCX 60