Coast towns eyeing off new heights

ALMOST 40 submissions have been lodged in response to a new Surf Coast Shire council strategy for Torquay and Jan Juc that flagged the potential for building height limits to soar above three storeys.

The draft Torquay-Jan Juc retail and employment land strategy aims to guide the future direction for commercial areas of the towns.

Key concerns from the 36 submissions included increased building heights and impacts of development on the Karaaf Wetlands.

Residents expressed the need to retain a 2-3-storey height limit on development in Torquay’s town centre, and along The Esplanade to protect older weatherboard houses.

But some argued the strategy should do more to emphasise the importance of apartment development in the Torquay town centre and increase height limits.

Other concerns related to the strategy lacking focus on certain areas of the economy including microbusinesses and the arts industry.

Meanwhile, there was a high level of support to reposition Baines Crescent as an enterprise precinct.

Part of the strategy proposes to review and revise height limits in the town centre to “ensure that redevelopment of sites is incentivised”.

It notes the lack of vacant land and restrictive height limits in the town centre were a major constraint to development.

“The majority of (the) two-storey limit applies to the central retail core and is likely to prevent redevelopment in this area,” it reads.

The strategy noted that, without a proactive approach to transition to a higher-density mixed-use environment, the town centre risked a “further decline” in performance.

The draft plan builds on an existing 2011 strategy, and includes 11 objectives to provide a strategic direction for the town’s retail areas.

The council will hold a special meeting to hear submissions on Tuesday before considering a final strategy later this month.

If adopted, the strategy will inform a future planning scheme amendment.