STAFF in a proposed four-storey office block, to be located at 151 Marine Parade, San Remo, on the site of the former Jim’s Bait and Tackle, will get a commanding view over the Phillip Island Bridge and Western Port while they work.
The planning application for the 11-space office project is set to come before the last Bass Coast Shire Council meeting of the year next Wednesday, December 11, where council is expected to tick off on the application despite receiving 20 objections.
Among the objections were several complaints about a proposal to waive nine parking spaces, the shire officers’ report noting a Traffic Engineering Assessment prepared by Traffix Group finding that there were approximately 428 on-street car parking spaces in the vicinity of the project.
Objections focused on overlooking residential balconies, loss of view, construction noise, visual bulk, waste management, insufficient parking spaces, overshadowing, location of plant and equipment on the roof, wind-tunnel effect, and potential use of some of the office spaces for residential purposes.
In relation to the latter, shire officers said the 11 small offices ranged in size from 13 square metres to 25 square metres, and any attempt to change the building use from office to residential was “unlikely to garner support”.
Despite the concerns, a report to council is supportive of the investment in business locally.
“The addition of 11 offices in central San Remo will provide diversity in the range of businesses and will increase activity in the San Remo commercial area,” according to a council report.
“The roof will have a significant installation of solar panels for common area lighting. All roof elements including solar panels and lift overruns are within the overall built form of the roof design,” according to the report, which notes the building will top out at almost 19 metres at the rear.
The building will be almost 18 metres fronting Marine Parade.
The bottom floor will be retail.
In summary, the shire says the proposed retail and office development is consistent with the relevant planning policies of the Planning Scheme and will make a positive, visually engaging contribution to the commercial success of San Remo, and provide much-needed office space to the township, adding vibrancy and boosting economic activity within this important commercial centre.
“The subject site has no direct abuttal to nearby residential land and is located at a distance from residential land further to the south, such that there will be negligible impacts from the proposed development upon the nearest dwellings.”
