Woollahra Council cross with clash of opinions

Development plans for the Stamford Plaza Hotel in Double Bay have divided opinion within Woollahra Council over its wider implications for the community.

Formerly known as the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the premises on 33 Cross St site will be turned into a new hotel, cinema and apartment complex if plans by developers, Scarborough Pacific Group, are approved.

The Scarborough Pacific Group is seeking to modify existing council development controls to construct more one-bedroom apartments on the site.

The proposed amendment to Section 96 would see to changes to the floor space of the Cross St frontage, and increases in the height of the building by 475mm to the roof and 750mm to the lift area.

Tensions arose over the development at the August 13 Woollahra Council meeting, over the inclusion of a 630-seat cinema complex and its potential impact on local residents.

Independent councillor Chris Howe declared a pecuniary interest in the project, as he was involved in its original design.

Cr Howe said he chose not to vote on the matter due to the division that the developments had caused within Council.

“I thought it was better that I remove myself from the meeting,” said Cr Howe.

“I was frankly astounded that the council once again refused it, not withstanding the staff who have put it forward for approval.

“I have complete confidence in my fellow councillors, we have a very committed and capable group, but I just couldn’t understand why it was refused.”

Cr Howe – a board member of the Double Bay Partnership – said the revitalisation of Double Bay was one of his main priorities and that plans for 33 Cross Street were a crucial part of this.

He said: “I am absolutely determined to get cinema space into Double Bay. The economic and social advantages of [a cinema complex] will put Double Bay back on its seat and it will be of great benefit to the community.”

Woollahra Deputy Mayor Toni Zeltzer also removed herself from the August 13 meeting and did not participate in the vote.

Ms Zelter had previously made a determination on the original proposal for the site as a member of the Sydney East Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP), with the panel reaching a different decision on Section 96 unanimously.

Ms Zeltzer said she abstained from voting due to a conflict of interest and did not want to influence Council’s decision on the matter.

The proposal was rejected on the grounds that it would be of excessive bulk and scale to the initial plans approved by the JRPP, and would have a detrimental impact on the residents of Double Bay and Bellevue Hill.

The plans were seen to affect the Transvaal Ave Heritage Precinct and the amenity of local suburbia, with fears held over excessive noise and visual impact.

Allan Coker, director of Planning and Development at Council’s Development Control Committee (DCC), recommended that Scarborough Pacific Group seek a new DA for the entire site should they wish to remove the cinemas, as this would affect the planning process.

Patrick Robinson, Manager of the Woollahra DCC, said the onus was on the developers to submit a new DA to withdraw the cinemas from the current plans.

“Any assessment … would need to [gain] the consent [that the amended application] … is substantially the same development as that which was granted consent to,” he said.

“A Section 96 application … seeking to remove the cinemas from the approval granted … would fail in relation to the relevant tests and … could not be approved.”

The contentious development is expected to be a significant topic for voters at the September 8 local government elections, with a final decision to be made at the Sydney East JRPP meeting in the same month.

By Daniel Paperny