The site of a dispute between residents and the developers of a social housing complex has now been proposed to house a less-intensive development.
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The 9693 square metre property at 78 Forbes Road is now proposed to be cleared to make way for five housing lots.
A development application currently on public exhibition at Orange City Council proposes the demolition of the existing four-bedroom house and all other structures to make way for the new housing lots which would include three properties on a community title.
About 50 trees would also be removed including an atlantic cedar tree council staff say should be retained.
Last year a 26-unit social housing complex was planned for the site.
However, the DA was later withdrawn.
Residents opposed the initial plan last year on several grounds.
They included concerns it would lead to traffic issues on Forbes Road, involved the destruction of trees and proposed too many units for the site.
The new DA does not include planning applications for any buildings.
Instead it is seeking subdivision approval for five lots which would be developed later.
The DA says council officers were asked to tour the site and determine how many of the 133 trees needed to be retained.
A report in the DA says council identified 25 trees that should be retained.
However, one of those trees, an atlantic cedar, would be in the way of the proposed development.
The DA proposes there would be two access points to Forbes Road.
The existing property on the site last sold for $1.3 million in November 2017.
Public comment on the DA can be made until the exhibition period closes on Friday July 17.
Once that period ends council staff will assess the DA and any comments and determine how council should proceed with the application.
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