LAKE Macquarie City Council on Monday approved a development application for a $15 million mixed-use complex on the Toronto foreshore, despite some residents’ concerns about the bulk and height of the building.
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The development, on the former Lifestyle Marine site on Brighton Avenue, would comprise commercial space on the ground floor, with 44 residential units over three storeys to 15.2 metres.
Councillors believe the development is key to increasing Toronto’s population density, and further “activating” the town.
The council has spent $4 million on the Toronto Streetscape Masterplan, will spend a further $9 million upgrading the Toronto foreshore, and is proposing another multi-storey tourism and residential development on its Bath Street site.
Councillors inspected the Brighton Avenue site on Thursday, and were met by a group of residents opposed to the development.
Resident Reg Crick said the building “significantly disregards the municipal development control plan (DCP) and local environmental plan (LEP) in regards to height and bulk”.
“This is not NIMBY-ism. As property owners in the area, we advocate for development of the site within the endorsed planning framework for waterfront property,” he said.
The complex didn’t reflect community aspirations enshrined in the Toronto Town Centre Area Plan, he said.
“We have sought to engage with council but have had little in the way of detailed response about how this development is to the public and not the developer’s benefit.”
Mr Crick said there were also concerns regarding traffic, pedestrian safety, and views created by the building.
After the site inspection on Thursday, Councillor Adam Schultz (Labor) said he supported the DA.
“Anyone in attendance could see that this site must be redeveloped. It is in a state of disrepair,” Cr Schultz wrote in an email responding to Mr Crick.
He said the new building would clearly improve the site, and access to the foreshore would be boosted.
“This is a win for the community. I believe the final design is a significant improvement on what was originally proposed by the developer [Stevens Holdings] and it will assist in further activating the foreshore.”
A report to councillors regarding traffic impacts deemed that the intersection of Wharf Road and Brighton Avenue had “sufficient capacity” to accommodate the development.
The report said the building would directly support 27 jobs during construction, with a further 53 jobs created through multiplier effects. Construction would also contribute $33 million of economic activity to the city.
