MEETING OF COUNCIL - Town of Cambridge

COUNCIL MINUTESTUESDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2013The applicant has provided the following reasons in support of the proposed fence:-• surveillance of the home is substantial as the house sits up a little higher to allow for clearview;• Salvado Road and Alderbury Street carry more traffic than their immediate surroundingroads and the corner location and gradient of the road exacerbate issues such as trafficnoise and glare;• due to the irregular shape of the lot, the main outdoor play area will be located at the frontof the dwelling and it is preferable that some screening is provided, particularly given thatthere are public playing fields across the road; and• triangular pockets of landscaping between the fencing and the front boundary combinedwith the step in plan, will assist in lessening the bulk of the wall.With regard to the performance criteria, the fencing is 50 percent solid, with a range in heightfrom 1.9 metres up to 2.35 metres (including retaining wall below). The dwelling is at a higherlevel than the fence. For half of the fence, the top of the wall matches the finished floor level ofthe dwelling, and for the other half of the fence, the top of wall is 0.65 metres above the finishedfloor level of the dwelling. This will allow clear views of the street and park beyond from insidethe dwelling. With regard to privacy, the swimming pool and deck is central to the block andscreened by the dwelling. The fence screens the front yard (south and west of the dwelling)which the applicant describes as a play area.A bin store is also proposed adjacent to the eastern side boundary, but within the front setbackarea. The applicant has advised that the store wall will be 1.3 metres high. The existingfencing along the eastern side boundary is open style with pillars and iron infill. Whilst the storeis only small, there is sufficient room to relocate the store behind the front setback where asolid wall is acceptable and will not impact on the streetscape or amenity of the neighbouringproperty.Overall the reasons provided for the solid fencing and the assessment against the performancecriteria is not considered to be significant to warrant the extent of solid fencing proposed.Floreat is a residential garden suburb with high quality housing in an open parkland setting.Approval of the solid fencing is likely to create a precedent for future development.Site works is further discussed below, but there is a need for a solid (retaining) wall to hold theterraced levels. This solid wall will range in height from 0.7 metres to 1.05 metres abovenatural ground level, in lieu of the acceptable development requirement of 0.75 metres for asolid wall in the front setback. It is considered that the retaining wall provides sufficient solidityto the streetscape and the fencing above this wall should be visually permeable. A condition isincluded in this regard. Landscaping is proposed in front of and behind the fencing, so privacyto the play area could be achieved through thoughtful landscaping rather than a solid wall.Site worksRetaining walls and filling ofland within 3.0 metres of astreet alignmentRetaining walls and filling ofland within 1.0 metre of acommon boundaryProposedAcceptable development provision0.7 metres – 1.05 metres Maximum 0.5 metresMaximum 1.06 metresadjacent to the north-westside boundaryMaximum 0.5 metresH:\CEO\GOV\COUNCIL MINUTES\13 MINUTES\FEBRUARY 2013\B DV.DOCX 48