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Item 7.8 - Attachment 1 |
Planning proposal for amendment to Parramatta
City Centre LEP 2007 regarding parking spaces |
PLANNING PROPOSAL FOR
AMENDMENT TO
INTRODUCTION
The planning proposal for amendment of the
Parramatta City Centre LEP 2007 sets a maximum number of parking spaces for
development in the city centre. The
planning proposal responds to the matters outlined
in the Department's Guideline for Preparing Planning Proposals including
objectives, explanation and justification.
BACKGROUND
· The planning
proposal for Amendment 3 to the Parramatta City Centre LEP 2007 as originally
prepared, proposed a maximum for the number of parking spaces within the City
Centre. This planning proposal received
Gateway Determination on 14 September 2009 and was publicly exhibited from 30 September to 16 October 2009.
· Council after
considering a submission from the Urban Task Force Australia resolved on 9
November 2009 to remove the item regarding car parking from the planning
proposal. The report and Council resolution are included as Attachment
A. Consequently the planning proposal
was finalised as Amendment 3 without this provision.
· This issue has
been reconsidered by Council that resolved on 9 August 2010 to re-initiate an
amendment to the Parramatta City Centre LEP 2007, proposing the parking rates
as maximums and that this be forwarded to the Department of Planning for
“Gateway Determination” under Section 56 of the Environmental Planning &
Assessment Act. The report and Council resolution are included as Attachment
B.
OBJECTIVES OR
INTENDED OUTCOMES
To set as a maximum the number of parking spaces
for development in the city centre in order to reduce car trips to the city
centre and to encourage greater use of public transport. The proposal is also in accord with the aim in
Clause 2 (f) of the LEP ‘to enhance access
to
EXPLANATION
Existing provisions require a set number of car
parking spaces according to the table in clause 22C to the Parramatta City
Centre LEP 2007, being neither expressed as a maximum or minimum. It is proposed to amend the provisions to
place a limit on the maximum number of parking spaces that can be provided for
proposed developments in the city centre in line with Council policy.
JUSTIFICATION
1. Is the planning proposal a
result of any strategic study or report?
The planning proposal has been the result of investigations and the
subject of a report to Council on 22 June 2009. The rationale of the proposal
is that a maximum
number of car spaces for development in the City Centre are necessary in order
to encourage greater use of public transport and to reduce car trips to the
City Centre. A maximum parking rate
applied under Sydney Regional Environmental Plan No 28 controls for the City
Centre prior to the City Centre LEP coming into force. Council also has a
policy to apply the rates under the City Centre LEP as maximums, given the
ambiguity of the provisions. (They are neither expressed as a maximum nor
minimum)
2. Is the planning proposal the
best means of achieving the objectives or intended outcomes, or is there a
better way?
The planning
proposal, involving statutory amendment of the Parramatta City Centre LEP 2007,
is considered the only means of achieving the objectives and intended
outcomes. Other possible options such as
community education, economic instruments or Council works and initiatives
would not result in the outcomes sought.
3. Is there a net community
benefit?
The planning proposal which entails placing a limit on the maximum
number of parking spaces to be provided in the city centre will have a positive
community impact in reducing the use of private transport in promoting the use
of public transport. Consequently, it is
considered that the proposal will have a net community benefit.
4. Is the planning proposal
consistent with the objectives and actions contained within the applicable
regional or sub-regional strategy (including the Sydney Metropolitan Strategy
and exhibited draft strategies)?
The planning
proposal is consistent with the West Central Subregional Strategy or the
Metropolitan strategy as outlined below:
· Action D3.2.1 of the Metropolitan Strategy to ‘Develop and implement a metropolitan-wide parking
policy to encourage use of public transport to centres and ensure a consistent
approach across centres’. The strategy indicates that this policy will build on existing policy
on parking provision. The Improving
Transport Choice Guidelines in the Integrating Land Use and Transport package
released in 2001 advocates reducing parking requirements for development in
areas with good public transport and providing well designed and located
parking to ensure it does not detrimentally affect access by other modes.
· Action D3.2 of the West Central Subregional
Strategy, focusing on developing a parking policy to support the use of
sustainable transport to Strategic Centres, including Parramatta.
5. Is the planning proposal
consistent with the local council’s Community Strategic Plan or other local
strategic plan?
The planning
proposal is consistent with Council’s strategic plan, Parramatta Twenty25 in
that by placing a limit on the amount of car parking to be provided will
encourage the development of sustainable forms of transport in the city centre.
In addition,
the limitation on car parking and is consistent with Future Action 5 of the
City Centre Vision which is to ‘Create a
pedestrian friendly city by improving the public transport mode share’. The City Centre plan aims to reduce commuter
car traffic and unnecessary through traffic and encourage public transport use.
6. Is the planning proposal
consistent with applicable state environmental planning policies?
The planning
proposal is consistent with state environmental planning policies.
7. Is the planning proposal
consistent with applicable Ministerial Directions (s.117 directions)?
The planning
proposal is consistent with applicable ministerial directions. In particular, placing a limit on the maximum
number of parking spaces is consistent with direction 3.4 which has an aim to
reduce travel demand including the number of trips generated by development and
the distance travelled, especially by car and supporting the efficient and
viable operation of public transport services.
8. Is there any likelihood that
critical habitat or threatened species, populations or ecological communities,
or their habitats, will be adversely affected as a result of the proposal?
The proposal will have no effect on
ecological communities and their habitats.
9. Are there any other likely
environmental effects as a result of the planning
proposal and how are they
proposed to be managed?
The proposal
being of minor significance should not have any environmental effects. Where future development applications are
lodged for land in respect to the planning proposal a full merit assessment of
environmental effects will be made at that time.
10. How has the planning proposal
adequately addressed any social and economic effects?
As already
indicated the planning proposal will have a number of positive social and
economic effects. In placing a maximum
limit on the provision of parking in the city centre will help encourage
sustainable modes of public transport.
It is not envisaged that the planning proposal will cause any negative
social and economic effects that need to be addressed.
11. Is there adequate public
infrastructure for the planning proposal?
The planning
proposal will not place additional demands on public infrastructure. Existing public transport in the City Centre
can support reduced parking rates.
12. What are the views of State
and Commonwealth public authorities consulted in accordance with the gateway
determination?
No
consultation is proposed.
Community Consultation
1. As the
proposal is of a minor nature, consultation with State or Commonwealth Public
Authorities is not considered necessary.
2. The
planning proposal, being of a ‘low impact’, was placed on exhibition from 30 September to 16 October 2009. One submission was
received from the Urban Task Force
.