SUMMARY SHEET: HERITAGE

This Summary Document introduces the Epping Planning Review and the proposed options, recommendations and suggested principles for the Heritage Study.

It is intended to help the community and stakeholders in making informed comment on what they believe Council should take into account when making decisions about the future planning for Epping Town Centre.

Council commissioned City Plan Services to undertake the Heritage Review. The scope of the Review responded in part to resolutions from Hornsby Shire Council from 8 October 2014 and January 2016 which proposed to undertake a review of various heritage matters.

THE EPPING PLANNING REVIEW – DISCUSSION PAPER Due to the introduction of new planning controls in 2014 and a strong housing market, the Epping Town Centre is experiencing unprecedented levels of redevelopment and change, particularly on its northern and eastern sides. This redevelopment impacts residents significantly, particularly with regards to view impacts, reduction in tree canopy, parking and traffic, and construction noise.

New development is also increasing the centre’s residential population. At the current rate of development, approximately 10,000 new residents will move into the centre in the next five to seven years.

On 12 May 2016, the council amalgamations process saw the Epping Town Centre fall entirely within the jurisdiction of the new City of Parramatta. This presents an opportunity to address these pressing issues and plan for the function of the centre over the next 20 years.

The community have voiced concerns about the changes taking place and this, coupled with the need to review planning requirements for the Epping Town Centre, has led to the City of Parramatta undertaking the Epping Planning Review.

WHAT DID THE REVIEW COVER?The Review included technical studies on:

• Heritage – looking at specific areas on the northern and eastern sides of the Epping Town Centre that have new developments close by, and whether this has changed the character and nature of those Heritage Conservation Areas (HCAs).

• Commercial floorspace – identifying how much area is currently available for business and retail use, how other local centres are developing and what the future for Epping Town Centre needs to be in order to have a thriving, vibrant centre.

• Social infrastructure – understanding what facilities and programs are available within Epping Town Centre now and what will be needed in the future. This includes halls and meeting rooms, parks, playgrounds, sporting fields and libraries.

• Traffic – a review of current conditions and future requirements is underway. Preliminary findings have been included in the Epping Planning Review Discussion Paper.

In addition, City of Parramatta Council knew it was important that the community – residents, stakeholders, businesses – had the opportunity to say what they thought was important for Council to consider. A number of workshops, website and a feedback survey were all undertaken to hear directly what the concerns and issues for the community were.

SUMMARY SHEET: HERITAGE

Council has released a discussion paper which consolidates the findings from the four technical studies and invites further comment from the community which may assist Council in developing new planning controls for the Epping Town Centre and immediate surrounds.

THE HERITAGE STUDY – THE TECHNICAL FINDINGSKey recommendations from the review are as follows:

• Retain the current boundaries of the Essex Street and Rosebank Avenue Heritage Conservation Areas (HCA).

• Adjust the south-west boundary of the East Epping HCA to remove properties at 25 Pembroke Street and Nos. 1, 3 and 3A Norfolk Road: Remove these properties because they are not in keeping with the Federation and Inter War characteristics of the East Epping HCA.

• Retain individual heritage items requested for removal by property owners at No.3 and 42 Essex Street.

• Rezone removed properties from East Epping Heritage Conservation Area, as well as Nos. 5, 7 and 7A Norfolk Road and identified properties within ‘Rockleigh Park’ to R3 Medium Density Residential with 12 metre height limit.

• Amend Interface Guidelines of the Hornsby DCP to improve the transition the R4 High Density development Hornsby DCP: Increase the setbacks and areas for deep soil planting on R4 zoned land to help retain landscape character.

• Maintain current height limits for the R4 and R3 zones.

• Rezone Low Density Residential R2 land to Medium Density Residential R3 zone in Rose Street and Briggs Road.

• Make recommendations for various sites identified as part of Stage 6 of the Hornsby Shire Council Heritage Study Review.

THE HERITAGE STUDY – COMMUNITY FEEDBACKCommunity feedback was sought on the HCAs through two workshops held on 1st and 3rd May 2017. During the workshops, participants were asked about what they valued about the neighbourhood, their experiences around development, and concerns around their neighbourhood. The participants were also specifically asked to nominate what Council should take into consideration when reviewing planning controls.

Participants valued Epping’s aesthetics, particularly the green and leafy nature of the suburb which was seen to contribute to the feeling that the area is protected and has a good sense of community. Participants also reflected that the low-density buildings are perceived to add space and safety, adding to the family-friendly character of the suburb. Easy access to public transport is also highly valued.

Traffic and parking was perceived to be a major issue. Other concerns included privacy and overshadowing from increased building heights; and increase in traffic, noise and rubbish from over-development.

In regard to planning controls, there were differing views. Some participants believed that building and planning controls need to be stricter, while other participants believed that the development controls should be lifted entirely as the HCAs are already compromised. However, there was agreement that future planning and development should be consistent and appropriate for each section of the local area.

SUMMARY SHEET: HERITAGE

THE HERITAGE STUDY – COMMUNITY FEEDBACK (CONT’D)

Some landowners within the HCA said the impact of a 5-storey apartment building located at their rear yard was unsatisfactory and should be taken into consideration in determining whether their sites should remain in the HCA. They perceived that, even if they were to “sell up” and move to avoid amenity impacts, they would suffer financially as the amenity impact has devalued their property.

Other landowners indicated that they valued the characteristics of their street, in the HCA protection and that it should be retained for those reasons. There was no clear spatial pattern to differentiate those for and against retention of the HCA.

SUMMARY SHEET: HERITAGE

HOW DO I MAKE A SUBMISSION?This Discussion Paper is being exhibited from Wednesday, 21 June 2017 to Wednesday, 19 July 2017. You can make a submission during this time. Please quote reference no. F2017/000210 in your submission.

SUBMISSIONS CAN BE POSTED TO:Epping Planning Review City of Parramatta Council PO Box 32 PARRAMATTA NSW 2150

SUBMISSIONS CAN BE EMAILED TO:placeservices@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au

YOU CAN ALSO CALL US:If you have accessibility concerns, please contact the National Relay Service on http://relayservice.gov.au and provide them with the City of Parramatta number you want to call.

WHAT HAPPENS TO MY SUBMISSION?All submissions will be carefully considered by senior staff and reported to Council in August 2017, prior to commencing Stage 2. Letters of acknowledgment will be provided for written submissions.

WHAT IS ON EXHIBITION?The Discussion Paper is being exhibited in conjunction with the following supporting information:

1. Technical Studies:a. Heritage Review (prepared by City

Plan Services).b. Commercial Floorspace Study (prepared

by SGS Economics & Planning).c. Social Infrastructure Study (prepared

by Council’s Social Outcomes team).d. Interim Traffic Modelling Report

(prepared by EMM).

HERITAGE IN EPPING

DISCUSSION PAPER QUESTIONS FOR FEEDBACKCouncil is seeking your feedback on the following options, recommendations and questions in relation to Heritage issues within Epping.

Rosebank Avenue and Essex Street HCA interfaces with R4 zoned land

A total of seven options are presented below:1. Maintain current HCAs

2. Landscaping at interface with R2 and R4 zoned land

3. Dual occupancy (addition at the rear)

4. Dual occupancy (side-by-side) redevelopment

5. Town house redevelopment

6. Manor home redevelopment

7. 3-storey residential flat building re-development

RO

SEBANK AVEN

UE

7m

plant trees

Figure 1 Option 2: Council-funded/managed tree planting initiative

RO

SEBANK AVEN

UE

7m

Dual Occupancy conversion of one dwelling into two dwellings

Figure 2 Option 3: Dual occupancy (addition at rear)

RO

SEBANK AVEN

UE

7m

8m

1.5m1.5m

Dual Occupancy/Semi-detached Dwellings - footprint 150sqm

Figure 3 Option 4: Dual occupancy (attached) side-by- side redevelopment

RO

SEBANK AVEN

UE

7m

8m

3m

Townhouses - basement carparking

Figure 4 Option 5: Town house redevelopment

RO

SEBANK AVEN

UE

7m

4m2.5m

8m

Manor House - 4 apartments - car parking at rear

Figure 5 Option 6: Manor home redevelopment

DISCUSSION PAPER QUESTIONS FOR FEEDBACK (CONT’D)

7a. What is your preferred option amongst the seven, and why?

Council officers recommend that the options Council should consider further are options 4 – dual occupancy development, 5 – town house development and 6 – Manor Home Development, as these options recognise the impact of adjoining development on the amenity of dwellings in the HCA whilst allowing a transition to a built form that is 2-storey in character as well as sufficient space for planting of significant trees.

Zoning issues – interface with the East Epping HCADown-zoning the Rockleigh Park zone from the R4 High Density zone to the R3 Medium Density zone, enabling a reduction in the permissible density, is supported by Council officers.

7b. Do you agree with the above recommendation for Rockleigh Park?

Zoning Options: 1, 3, 3A, 5, 7 and 7A Norfolk Road and 25 Pembroke RoadThe Heritage Review recommends that the HCA designation be removed from 1, 3, 3A Norfolk Road and 25 Pembroke Street, and that these sites, together with 5, 7 and 7A, be rezoned to Residential R3. This would allow them to be developed for apartment buildings to 4 storeys.

Alternative option 1 - Rezone 1, 3, 3A, 5, 7 and 7A Norfolk Road and 25 Pembroke Street to Residential R3, but restrict development on 3, 3A, 5, 7, and 7A Norfolk Road to a 2-storey Manor Home.

Alternative option 2 - Rezone 1, 3, 3A, 5, 7 and 7A Norfolk Road and 25 Pembroke Street to Residential R3, but restrict development on 3, 3A, 5, 7, and 7A Norfolk Road to a 2 storey Manor Home.

Alternative option 3 - Allow 1 Norfolk Road and 25 Pembroke Street to be rezoned to Residential R3 and retain Residential R2 zoning on 3, 3A, 5, 7 and 7A Norfolk Road.

7c. In the case of 1, 3, 3A, 5, 7, and 7A Norfolk Road and 25 Pembroke Street, what is your preferred option and why?

Rose Street precinctThe Rose Street precinct is zoned Low Density Residential. Council officers recommend rezoning this precinct from R2 Low Density to R3 Medium Density.

7d. Do you agree with the recommendations for the Rose Street precinct? Please comment.

Please note: Questions are numbered according to how they appear in the full Discussion Paper.

City of Parramatta

3,000

152.4

1:

Meters152.476.200

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the correctness of the information on this map at the time of its Production, City of Parramatta council does not warrant theinformation or plans do not contain errors and the Council shall be in no way liable for any loss, damage or injury as a result of any such

Maps Updated and Published by ICT, City of Parramatta

Base data supplied from NSW Department of Lands

Figure 6 Rockleigh Park area (yellow outline)