Council recommended for approval a development which will overshadow the historic Stony Range Botanical Garden at Dee Why year-round.
Due to the development being over 60 million dollars DA2022/0145 went to the Sydney North Planning Panel with council’s recommendation and was approved on Monday July 17 2023. There were 134 submissions, many objecting to the DA as it is, along with those from local Real Estate agents and Developers, who have voiced support for the DA stating it will provide affordable housing. The median price for a unit in Dee Why is $865,000 (July 2022 - June 2023) for a 2 bedroom unit the median price is $915,000 and $1,402,500 for a 3 bedroom unit.
All but one member of the SNPP approved the development. That one member recommended refusal of the proposal because of ‘’the significant impact (by overshadowing) of the design of the proposal on the recreational amenity of a portion of Stony Range Reserve used for play, picnics and BBQs.’’
The available shadow diagrams indicate that overshadowing would occur over much of the play/picnic/BBQ area across the middle of the day in winter and also but to a lesser extent in autumn and spring.
Despite the SNPP recording in its decision that ‘’Therefore, the development does not avoid ‘unreasonably overshadowing’ a part of the reserve that makes a substantial contribution to its’ recreational amenity.’’ the DA was approved.
Specifically, the proposal involves the following:
Demolition of all structures, including existing commercial buildings and carparking areas
Removal of 59 trees
Bulk excavation of the site
334 car parking spaces (258 residential, 44 visitor and 32 commercial) in two basement levels
Vehicular access, loading dock and waste collection from Delmar Parade
Two main buildings, with varying heights, including five, six and seven storeys
219 apartments; comprising 122 units in the Delmar Parade building (being 44 x 1 bed, 8 x 1 bed+, 30 x 2 bed, 16 x 2 bed+, 21 x 3 bed, and 3 x 3 bed+) and 97 units in the Pittwater Road building (being 35 x 1 bed, 6 x 1 bed+, 35 x 2 bed, 6 x 2 bed+, 12 x 3 bed, and 3 x 3 bed+) – so 384 car spaces potentially required, 258 allowed for residential parking leaves a shortfall of 126 spaces
Four (4) commercial tenancies, two facing Pittwater Road and two facing Delmar Parade
2,011m2 of communal open space, including ground floor level and roof top terraces
Relocated stormwater infrastructure and Overland Flow Path
New landscaping
