Surf Coast Shire Council has supported the amended plans to the controversial Cypress Lane retirement village development in Torquay after a special meeting.
The amended planning permit was put before Councillors on Tuesday night, where the amendments were considered acceptable under the Surf Coast Planning Scheme and Planning and Environment Act.
The project has copped fierce community backlash, with many residents deeming the area of Torquay inappropriate for development and will have detrimental impacts on the surrounding environment.
Amendments which were supported at the special meeting will next be considered at an upcoming Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing.
“We acknowledge the ongoing community interest in this proposal,” Mayor Liz Pattison said.
“The amended plans will be considered as part of the VCAT appeal, which was lodged by nine joint applicants and objectors following Council’s original decision on the retirement village proposal,” she said.
“The proposed development has generous boundary setbacks and landscaping plans that capitalise on the existing vegetation, to respect the character of the area.
“To help achieve this, Council has proposed modified conditions for VCAT to consider.”
The amended proposal includes 191 independent living units (reduced by five), 334 resident car parking spaces (reduced by 21) and 43 visitor parking spaces (increased by five).
The two apartment buildings in the south-eastern corner bordering Deep Creek have reduced in height from three-storey to two-storey with a maximum height of 7.39m.
The five-day VCAT hearing is scheduled to start on April 29.
