Maroondah Neighbourhood Character Study Review - UPDATE

This consultation has now closed.

31 August 2020: Council consideration of the Neighbourhood Character Study Review Recommendations Report:

At its meeting on 31 August 2020 Council considered the submissions received during the consultation period and resolved to adopt the Recommendations Report “in principle”. The Council resolution as contained in the minutes to that meeting noted:

THAT COUNCIL

1. NOTES THE SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED FOLLOWING THE CONSULTATION PERIOD FOR THE NEIGHBOURHOOD CHARACTER STUDY REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT AND THANKS SUBMITTERS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS

2. NOTES THE NEIGHBOURHOOD CHARACTER STUDY REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS REPORT AND ADOPTS ITS RECOMMENDATIONS IN PRINCIPLE

Next Steps for Implementation: 2021-2022

The implementation of the Neighbourhood Character Recommendations Report has been affected by recent changes introduced by the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning (DELWP). In particular, the State Government Practice Notes PPN 90 Planning for Housing, December 2019 and PPN 91 Using the Residential Zones, December 2019. These Practice notes introduce a number of requirements including:

• “The neighbourhood character strategy should demonstrate that housing objectives have not been prejudiced when determining areas for the protection of existing neighbourhood character.”
• The preferred neighbourhood character statement can be specified in a Schedule to the Residential Zone to implement the preferred neighbourhood character. Applying the right residential zone must be derived from the municipal wide strategic framework plan or residential development framework plan contained in a Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS).”

In response, Council has commenced translating the Local Planning Policy Framework (LPPF) content into the Maroondah Planning Scheme. This requires a review of the LPPF content, however key local issues and strategic directions will be retained.

Council officers are currently liaising with DELWP to integrate the implementation of the Neigbourhood Character Study Review with the associated strategic work, in particular, the Residential Framework Plan and translation of the Local Planning Policy Framework.

Background

Following community feedback a recommendations report was prepared by Council. The report presented the findings and recommendations of the review, and aimed to determine and justify the most appropriate residential zoning for all character areas and precincts across Maroondah.

The Recommendations report included :

• The preparation of neighbourhood character and landscape objectives for each residential character areas or precincts. These will be included in the schedules of the General Residential Zone (GRZ) and Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ).
• The introduction of site coverage, permeability, landscaping requirements and decision guidelines to the schedules for Maroondah's residential zones.
• Deletion of the Neighbourhood Character Policy Section 22.02 of the Maroondah Planning Scheme. This policy will be made redundant as it was prepared prior to Victorian Government's changes to the Victorian Planning Provisions New Residential Zones.

The review recommendations were intended to address changes to the Victorian planning provisions, current development pressures and reflect recent changes to the character of Maroondah's residential areas.

For further information please email us at strategicplanningadmin@maroondah.vic.gov.au or call us on 1300 88 22 33.