Heights cap back to 45m

BUILDINGS in Hobart’s CBD could soon be again capped at 45 metres — overriding the recommendations of the recent council-commissioned review.

The Hobart City Council’s planning committee last night voted 3-2 against the key recommendation of the building height review — which divided the CBD into zones and set a maximum limit of 60m.

BUILDINGS in Hobart’s CBD will be capped at 45m if the council planning committee recommendations are approved next week.

It was standing room only at last night’s meeting at the Lady Osborne Room as the five-person Hobart City Council planning committee also rejected the Fragrance Group develop- ment at Elizabeth St, much to the delight of the crowd.

A council-commissioned review by architect Leigh Woolley divides Hobart into 10 height zones, designed to preserve views of kunanyi/Mt Wellington and the waterfront.

Committee Chairwoman Helen Burnet and Jeff Briscoe supported Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds’s amendments to lower heights in the CBD from the 60m recommended in the report to 45m.

Cr Reynolds also proposed lowering the height limits in four of the other zones.

“The feedback I’ve had from people in Hobart is that the proposed 60m or 20 storeys is too high for Hobart and our CBD,” she said.

Aldermen Simon Behrakis and Tanya Denison did not support the motion.

Ald Behrakis called for the decision to be deferred to allow more research into the effect setting a height limit would have on Hobart’s economy and housing affordability. Ald Behrakis’s motion was defeated 3-2.

Hobart Not Highrise president Brian Corr welcomed the lower heights.

“It gives developers, architects, planning staff and residents certainty,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fragrance Group’s bid to build 12 and 13- storey towers in Elizabeth St near the corner of Warwick St hit a major snag with a 4-1 vote against the development.

Only Ald Behrakis voted in favour of the project.

“I think 11 of the 12 reasons given for refusal were put forward by the heritage officer and I raised the fact that the Tasmanian Heritage Council took a different viewpoint,” he said.

“Many of the reasons were very subjective.”

But Mr Corr described the Elizabeth St plan as a “monstrosity” and said it was rightly recommended for refusal on height and heritage grounds

Revamped plans for a $60 million expansion of the heritage-listed Lenna of Hobart hotel in Battery Point was approved 3-2 with Cr Burnet and Reynolds voting against the development.

The full council meets on Monday next week.