The head of the Orange Heritage Group has called on Orange City Council to reject plans for a 24-room double-storey boarding house development in March Street.
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Charlie Everett said the proposal was not in keeping with the mainly single-storey “village” atmosphere of houses in the area.
Mr Everett said that if the development became single storey and had less buildings “it probably would be acceptable.”
Council’s planning and development committee is due to consider the development application at its next meeting on Tuesday night, August 14.
This is like judging chalk and cheese.
- Charlie Everett, Orange Heritage Group
Mr Everett said that while council had approved a similar development for a new-generation boarding house in McLachlan Street it should not be used as a precedent.
“This is like judging chalk and cheese,” he said.
“McLachlan Street is a commercial area, you are right on Bathurst Road.
“McLachlan Street is a through road, this [March Street] is not a through road.
“This is a heritage area which is in a village area, you’ve got a memorial park [Newman Park] opposite, you’ve got memorial trees.”
He said there were four other residential developments nearby and all were single-storey and more sympathetic to the area.
Mr Everett said he understood the Sydney-based developer, Greg Kings, had not modified the plans since May despite being sent a list of suggested improvements.
“He’s talking about Sydney all the time but this is Orange,” he said.
Mr Kings told the Central Western Daily this week his proposal complied “100 per cent” with state government planning requirements and the design was sympathetic to the area.
Both Mr Everett and Mr Kings said they would attend the planning meeting on Tuesday.
Mr Everett said other schemes that concerned him in Orange at present included the Myer store redevelopment in Summer Street with the latest plans including a food court instead of a major retail store.
“That’s the biggest one at the moment,” he said.
“We want retailers, not food.
“The new proposal should be completely rejected, go back to what it was.”