Planning Scheme amendment to height standards
Published on 25 July 2017
The City of Hobart has placed on public exhibition, an amendment to the Hobart Interim Planning Scheme 2015 – amendment to the height standards in the Central Business Zone.
The Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Sue Hickey said the amendment proposes to insert a ‘desired future character statement’ and performance criteria setting out the townscape and streetscape elements that would be considered in relation to proposed developments in the Central Business Zone that do not meet the acceptable solutions in relation to height.
“The Hobart Interim Planning Scheme 2015 currently has standards concerning building height within the CBD. There is a numerical standard of 45 metres but if a proponent wishes to exceed that height, then the proposal must be considered against a number of qualitative standards.
“So, while it is not proposed to change the numerical standard, the Council was keen to ensure that the qualitative standards that applied to developments that exceeded the numerical standards were robust and appropriate,” said the Lord Mayor.
The Chairman of the Council’s City Planning Committee, Alderman Jeff Briscoe said: “The decision to initiate the amendment followed a detailed review by highly-respected architect and urban design consultant, Mr Leigh Woolley, of the current performance criterion used in the height standards of the Hobart Interim Planning Scheme 2015.”
“Mr Wooley’s report provided the Council with suggested improvements to the qualitative standards that Council should take into account when considering tall buildings within the CBD.
“They include such things as not obscuring critical view lines between the waterfront and kunanyi / Mount Wellington, reduced bulk where height increases while also ensuring light into streets and public spaces, and avoiding proposals that would result in individually prominent buildings.
“The proposed amendment is about helping to ensure that development in the Central Business Zone makes a positive contribution to the streetscape and townscape values and meets community expectations,” said Ald Briscoe.
Public information sessions to explain the proposed amendment and the outcomes of the Leigh Woolley Height Standards Review Report (2016) will be held in the Council’s Elizabeth Street Conference Room as follows:
- 5pm on Tuesday 8 August 2017
- 12:30pm on Tuesday 15 August 2017
The amendment and supporting information is on display at the City of Hobart’s Customer Service Centre at 16 Elizabeth Street and is available on the Council’s website here: Planning Scheme amendments
Representations may be made by any person in writing addressed to the General Manager, City of Hobart GPO Box 503, HOBART 7001 or by email coh@hobartcity.com.au by 1 September 2017.
“Any submissions received will be considered by both the Council and the Tasmanian Planning Commission before a final determination is made as to whether the amendment should be supported, amended or rejected.
“I would encourage people to take this opportunity to have their say and be part of this community engagement process,” Ald Briscoe said.