Reasons For the Refusal;
(1) The development does not meet the requirements of the Darebin Planning Scheme regarding:
(a) Provision of adequate car parking spaces, Clause 52.06.
(b) The internal amenity of one bedroom apartments is substandard arising from the limited floor space and small balconies, Clause 22.06.
(c) The apartment mix as it does not facilitate a diverse range of housing stock, Clause 22.06.
(d) The proposal fails to respond to the characteristics of the market locality and interface issues resulting in loss of natural sun light access to the open air market caused through a lack of height gradation of the taller buildings away from the open air fresh food market.
(2) The development is contrary to the Preston Market Incorporated Plan 2007 development objectives and design principles regarding:
(a) The lack of affordable and social housing opportunities as encouraged by the Preston Market Incorporated Plan 2007.
(b) Exceeds the 10 storey preferred height limit.
(c) The development proposes a vertical street wall adjacent Murray Road that exceeds the preferred maximum of 4 storeys.
(d) The location of above ground car parking in adjacent buildings shown in planning application D398/2016 is not designed to present a sufficiently attractive building interface or an acceptable parking arrangement.
(e) The staging compromises the orderly and proper planning of the balance of the Preston Market site as the proposal has not adequately demonstrated that it will not impinge on best future options available for the redevelopment of the balance of the site that ensures the preservation of the fresh food market.
(3) In accordance with relevant sections of the Planning and Environment Amendment
(Recognising Objectors) Act 2015, the extraordinary high number of objections is clearly indicative of the scale of a social effect on the community, the presence of a specific social need in the community and the social significance of the site to the community including Darebin‟s aged, disadvantaged and multicultural community.