30 August 2023
By Hannah Wilcox
Another developer is testing the resolve of North Sydney Council on Neutral Bay height limits, with a new plan for a 12 storey building on Military Rd lodged via a DA.
The lot, located at 183-185 Military Road, adjoins the neighbouring Woolworths site at 1-7 Rangers Road.
It adjoins a major bus stop on the main road with Stand A, B and C providing services to the CBD, around the North Shore, out to the Western Suburbs and the Northern Beaches B-Line.
Plans include creating a new public plaza on Rangers Road to link between Yeo Street, a revised community centre facility for the Neutral Bay Community Centre (currently situated on Military Road) and 26 apartments.
The 12-storey multipurpose tower, sitting at 21.2m, for commercial, retail and residential use will challenge the preference of the current council for limits of four storeys.
Council recently rejected a similar DA next door to develop the Woolworths site after it exceeded permitted building heights and floor-space ratios.
The ground and basement floors will be retail, whilst levels 2 and 3 will be for commercial use with residentials from level 4 upwards. The car park is expected to be four levels deep with a 14-space bike parking area.
A 2.5m setback has also been proposed along Military Road to allow for an extended tree canopy and increase shelter available for those waiting for a bus.
As to why Equitibuild is lodging a DA that clearly challenges the preferences of the current council, its planning consultants PPD say: “Consideration was also given to doing nothing and waiting for Council to finalise a new Military Road Corridor strategy as promised that includes the Neutral Bay Town Centre. Having due consideration to the years already spent from 2018 working with Council on the initial strategy and the uncertainty with the timing of any new strategy or if it will ever be completed or adopted, there is a real possibility the site will remain in its current state and will not achieve redevelopment of the site that supports: increased supply of jobs, increased supply of diverse housing, and most importantly delivery of community benefits that will see the future revitalisation of the Neutral Bay Town Centre envisioned by Council staff.”