Planning Proposal Amendment to the Blacktown Local Environmental Plan 2015 Riverstone Town Centre January 2020 Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 2 Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 2 Council consideration .......................................................................................................................... 3 Gateway Determination ....................................................................................................................... 4 Neighbourhood context ....................................................................................................................... 5 Economic and feasibility analysis ...................................................................................................... 8 The Planning Proposal ........................................................................................................................ 9 Part 1 – Objectives and intended outcomes ................................................................................ 9 Part 2 – Explanation of provisions ................................................................................................. 9 a. Land Zoning ........................................................................................................................ 10 b. Building height .................................................................................................................... 10 c. Incentive Height of Buildings Map ................................................................................... 11 d. Minimum subdivision lot size ............................................................................................ 11 e. Intention of allowing additional height on land in the Riverstone Town Centre .... 11 f. Design excellence .............................................................................................................. 12 g. Land reservation acquisition ............................................................................................. 12 Part 3 – Justification ....................................................................................................................... 14 Section A – Need for the Planning Proposal .......................................................................... 14 Section B – Relationships to strategic planning framework ................................................. 15 Section C – Environmental, social and economic Impact .................................................... 26 Part 4 – Mapping ............................................................................................................................ 34 Part 5 – Community Consultation ................................................................................................ 34 Part 6 – Project Timeline ............................................................................................................... 34 Appendix 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 35 Council resolution to prepare a Planning Proposal ................................................................... 35 Appendix 2 .......................................................................................................................................... 36 Mapping ........................................................................................................................................... 36 Appendix 3 .......................................................................................................................................... 37 Guidelines for Architectural Design Competition ....................................................................... 37 Appendix 4 .......................................................................................................................................... 38 Riverstone Town Centre Flood Hazard Mapping ...................................................................... 38 Page 1 of 39 Introduction This Planning Proposal explains the intended effect of and justification for the proposed amendment to Blacktown Local Environmental Plan 2015 (BLEP 2015) relating to the Riverstone Town Centre. It has been prepared in accordance with Section 3.33 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and the Department of Planning Infrastructure and Environment (DPIE) documents ‘A guide to preparing local environmental plans’ and ‘A guide to preparing planning proposals’. Summary This Planning Proposal seeks to amend BLEP 2015 in order to implement the strategies and recommendations contained within the Riverstone Town Centre Masterplan, as adopted by Council on 22 November 2017. This is Part 1 of a staged approach to implementation of the masterplan recommendations. The Masterplan details Blacktown City’s strategic direction to shape, manage and revitalise commercial and residential growth within the Riverstone Town Centre over the next 20 years. The Masterplan provides an integrated land use planning and transport plan that responds to the anticipated growth in the area during this period. Our vision for the Riverstone Town Centre is to create a vibrant, sustainable centre with opportunities for the community. Proposed key amendments to BLEP 2015 include: • upzoning of land within the Riverstone Town Centre core area to B4 Mixed Use and R4 High Density Residential to enable a mix of commercial, retail and higher density residential uses • changes to planning controls that relate to building heights to allow up to 20 m (6 storeys) and 32 m (10 storeys) • changes to the Lot size map to align with the proposed zoning changes • identification of land to be acquired by Council for community uses • changes to the Design Excellence map to include land in the Riverstone Town Centre • allowing additional building height up to 50 m (15 storeys) on land on land between Pitt Street and Riverstone Parade, subject to an architectural design competition. A copy of the Riverstone Town Centre Masterplan and the supporting economic and feasibility analysis, urban design analysis and transport assessment accompany this Planning Proposal. Page 2 of 39 Council consideration Council resolved in July 2016 to prepare and exhibit a draft masterplan to manage and shape future growth and development in the Riverstone Town Centre. The draft masterplan was exhibited from 22 August to 30 September 2016. The exhibition included 4 masterplan options for the redevelopment of the town centre. In November 2017, Council resolved to adopt Option 2 ‘The Main Street’ for inclusion in the final masterplan for the Riverstone Town Centre, based on consideration of the comparative performance of each option based on the criteria set out in the Masterplan and community feedback from public exhibition of the draft masterplan. In February 2018, Council resolved to: • prepare a Planning Proposal to amend Blacktown Local Environmental Plan 2015, and progress corresponding draft amendments to Blacktown Development Control Plan 2015, to implement the statutory elements of the land use planning strategy outlined in the Riverstone Town Centre Masterplan • forward the Planning Proposal to the Department of Planning and Environment seeking a Gateway Determination to exhibit the proposal • exhibit the Planning Proposal concurrently with draft amendments to Blacktown Development Control Plan 2015. A copy of the Council resolution to prepare a Planning Proposal is at Appendix 1. Page 3 of 39 Gateway Determination We received a conditional Gateway Determination on 6 August 2018. It required the following be undertaken prior to public exhibition: • preparation of a flood study in consultation with the SES, INSW (Flood Risk Directorate) and Transport for NSW (TfNSW) • consultation with the Government Architect of NSW and obtain the endorsement of the Secretary (or delegate) for the proposed Design Excellence Guidelines • work with the Department of Planning and Environment to refine infrastructure funding, undertake sensitivity testing and consider if contributions towards the State and Regional Infrastructure should be captured • clarify that the new incentive clause, to be inserted into Part 7 of BLEP 2015 is only a draft clause to state Council’s intent and is subject to changes when the LEP is finalised by Parliamentary Council • submit a revised planning proposal to the Department for endorsement. A revised Planning Proposal was submitted to the Department in August 2019. An amended Gateway Determination issued on 13 December 2019 required Council to exclude the area south of Garfield Road East from the Planning Proposal. This is to enable TfNSW to review the Garfield Road East road corridor and railway level crossing. This Planning Proposal is therefore further revised to exclude proposed amendments to planning controls from land south of Garfield Road East. The planning controls which apply to the land south of Garfield Road East will be reviewed at a later date. The Planning Proposal has been updated as follows: • Gateway Determination • Part 2 Explanation of provisions: land zoning, building height, incentive height of buildings map, minimum lot size, intention of allowing additional height on land in