KINGSTON Councillors have voted to refuse to amend a permit to construct an aged care facility in Collins Street Mentone.
The applicant, Mercy Health, confirmed to The News that they would be applying to amend their existing permit to include “an increase in the number of beds from 120 to 136, the addition of half-floor fourth storey, which will be set back from the building’s facade to accommodate the additional residents, and the addition of six car parks on site, acquired by Mercy Health, to reduce on-street parking.
On 25 February council voted to refuse a permit, because “the proposal constitutes an over-development of the site” and “the proposal would detract from the visual amenity of the locality and the streetscape”.
Cr Ron Brownlees moved that a permit be granted pending a number of conditions, but he was the only councillor who voted in favour of that motion.
Cr Geoff Gledhill said he was “bitterly disappointed” at the attempt to amend the permit.
“We have to be mindful there is people living in and around these facilities and we have to be mindful of not impacting adversely on their life,” he said.
The alternate recommendation to refuse a permit was then moved and passed.
Collins Street resident Adrianna Pavlekovic spoke at the meeting objecting to the proposal. She told The News she is one of over 30 objectors who had opposed the development (“Mentone residents oppose development”, The News, 20/2/19).
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 13 March 2019