Hi Experts 
- future developments around the area?
- rates?
- ...?
- future developments around the area?
- rates?
- ...?
When you call the Council to do your checks, what do you usually ask?
- Thread starter Edmond Dantes
- Start date
Initial Meeting With Council
Hi aegcp
We find that it’s very beneficial, after the preparation of the concept plan, to organise a preliminary meeting with the Planning Authority - usually the local Council. We do this to determine their attitude towards our proposed development and to discuss, at this early stage, any issues they may have with the concept layout. Requesting this meeting has many additional advantages for us, such as:
* It indicates to Council that we are willing to work with them and listen to their (reasonable) requests. This creates a positive climate in which the development approval process can progress.
* We ask for Council’s reasons for either approving or rejecting any nearby development projects similar to our proposal. We use this information to tailor our proposal to further increase our chances of approval.
* We ask for an indication of any other extra information that Council may require to be included with the Development Permit Application. These could include expert reports from other professionals such as Traffic, Aborist and/or Acoustic. We can then budget for these in our feasibility.
* We also get to see Council’s reaction if we try to ‘push the development envelope’ – in other words, propose a development beyond the restrictions of their planning codes. Generally this will only be possible if we can argue that there are good reasons for varying Council’s policies.
The disadvantage of this pre-lodgement meeting is that the advice and comments of the Planning Officer that we meet with is generally not binding on the Council. Although this is very frustrating we try to minimise the impact of this uncertainty in a couple of ways:
* Firstly, we request to meet with the Senior Planner covering the location of the site, as they in all likelihood, will be the person having the final decision on our Development Application – especially if our development proposal is considered to be controversial.
* We take notes during the meeting of the opinions and advice offered by the Planning Officer, and if we think it's appropriate we confirm the main points discussed and agreed in an email to the Officer.
It is a good idea to form relationships with council representatives and ensure you discuss your project with the decision makers beforehand. These are the people whose opinions will ultimately count in the end.
Hope this helps and we wish you much success with your project!
Hi aegcp
We find that it’s very beneficial, after the preparation of the concept plan, to organise a preliminary meeting with the Planning Authority - usually the local Council. We do this to determine their attitude towards our proposed development and to discuss, at this early stage, any issues they may have with the concept layout. Requesting this meeting has many additional advantages for us, such as:
* It indicates to Council that we are willing to work with them and listen to their (reasonable) requests. This creates a positive climate in which the development approval process can progress.
* We ask for Council’s reasons for either approving or rejecting any nearby development projects similar to our proposal. We use this information to tailor our proposal to further increase our chances of approval.
* We ask for an indication of any other extra information that Council may require to be included with the Development Permit Application. These could include expert reports from other professionals such as Traffic, Aborist and/or Acoustic. We can then budget for these in our feasibility.
* We also get to see Council’s reaction if we try to ‘push the development envelope’ – in other words, propose a development beyond the restrictions of their planning codes. Generally this will only be possible if we can argue that there are good reasons for varying Council’s policies.
The disadvantage of this pre-lodgement meeting is that the advice and comments of the Planning Officer that we meet with is generally not binding on the Council. Although this is very frustrating we try to minimise the impact of this uncertainty in a couple of ways:
* Firstly, we request to meet with the Senior Planner covering the location of the site, as they in all likelihood, will be the person having the final decision on our Development Application – especially if our development proposal is considered to be controversial.
* We take notes during the meeting of the opinions and advice offered by the Planning Officer, and if we think it's appropriate we confirm the main points discussed and agreed in an email to the Officer.
It is a good idea to form relationships with council representatives and ensure you discuss your project with the decision makers beforehand. These are the people whose opinions will ultimately count in the end.
Hope this helps and we wish you much success with your project!
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