Attachment 3 U R B A N I S T A T 0 W N P L A N N I N G 27 May 2016 /Rec Paola di Perna 7 Manager Approval Services I. City of Vincent 244 Vincent Street LEEDERVILLE WA 6007 Dear Ms di Perna NO. 31 (LOT 74) SMITH STREET, HIGHGATE - PROPOSED ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO EXISTING CHURCH HALL Urbanista Town Planning is pleased to submit the following Development Application and associated planning report on behalf of the Serbian Orthodox Church of Saint Sava at 31 Smith Street, Highgate. The purpose of the planning report is to assist the City with its determination of the Development Application. Introduction The Serbian Orthodox Church is recognised by the Heritage Council of Western Australia as a place of significant historic, cultural and aesthetic value and its contribution to the cultural identity of the Serbian community in Western Australia was formalised in 2001 with the listing of the Church and associated church hail to the State Heritage Register. The Development Application relates to proposed works to the church hall which is situated at the rear of the site. The proposed works include improvements to the building and its amenity areas, including the addition of a second storey to accommodate two offices, a classroom and library area. This report provides an overview of the proposed works in accordance with the City of Vincent Town Planning Scheme, associated planning policies and relevant State assessment tools. I particularly note Local Planning Policy 7.6.7, which allows the City to waive development application fees to heritage listed properties. We respectfully request that the City apply its policy provision in this instance and waive any application fees associated with this application. 3 Normaiihy RoaU. Ir gI1uuci VVA dJrr rrrrgu; bdr ristapIr ir ir g.ur1au Iwww urbar staplar rriirgcori au Attachment 3 U R B A N I S T A W N P L A N N I N G / Site Details Lot 74 (No.31) Smith Street is located near the intersection of Smith and Lincoln St in Highgate in an area characterised by a mix of residential development, ranging from single residential dwellings to multiple dwellings. The built form of the area is diverse and varied, with examples of development from the early 20th century to more recent contemporary homes. The site is zoned Residential R80 and the lot is 1,239sq.m in size. A place of worship and multi- functional Church hall exist on the site. The church hall is used for activities incidental to the place of worship including a Sunday school for children and administration for the Parish Priest. The primary building on them site is Serbian Orthodox Church of St Sava, which is setback at a distance of approximately 8m from Smith Street. The Church rises slightly as it extends to the centre of the site in response to the lay of the land, which illustrates a change in the natural topography of approximately 1.5m. No additional uses are being proposed as part of these works. The building will be refurbished and increased in size so that the current activities and functions provided can be improved. The Serbian Orthodox Church of St Sava is highly symbolic to the Serbian community of Western Australia as a place of worship, tradition and culture. In recognition of its value to the Serbian community, as well as its unique physical attributes, the Heritage Council of Western Australia in 2001 listed the Church and Church hail on the State Heritage List. This report is submitted to assist the City of Vincent in its determination of the development application for works to the Church hail building. The report provides context in support the proposal in accordance with Division 2 of the City's Town Planning Scheme relating to development on places of cultural heritage significance. : .. (' .'-. I Figure 1: Aerial photo of No. 31 Smith St, Highgate Attachment 3 /CC U R B A N I S T A T 0 W N P L A N N I N 0 The Serbian Orthodox Church of St Sava and Church Hall The Serbian Orthodox Church was completed in 1954 by Serbian migrants to Australia following the Second World War. The Church was constructed by donations made by the Serbian community and named St Sava (1174-1236), in recognition of the founder of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The Church signifies the important connection between the Serbian community and its Orthodox faith and represents the hard work and contribution made by Serbian migrants for the benefit future generations of Serbian people arriving to Australia. The Church is historically notable as the first Serbian Orthodox Church built in Western Australia and the second Serbian Orthodox Church built in Australia. In addition to this, it was the second Orthodox Church built in the State after the Greek Orthodox Church in Northbridge in the 1930's. The Heritage Council evaluates the Church to be an outstanding example of an Orthodox Church built in the post-World War Two period. It defines the aesthetic quality of the Church as follows: The Serbian Orthodox Church of St Sava is a fine example of the Post-War Ecclesiastical architectural style The distinctive curved form of the church, with its domed roof and stark white walls, set in landscaped gardens featuring a symmetrical arrangement of palm trees, concrete paths, green lawns, white masonry fence and boundary planting of conifers and shrubs, has an overall aesthetic quality that is both visually pleasing and peaceful. Serbian Orthodox Church, which is characterised by its traditional dome roof, high walls and giant orthodox cross. In addition, the Church hail building is referred to by the Heritage Council as a Sunday school which was constructed in 1962. The building is not significant from an aesthetic perspective but does combine with the Church to contribute to the social and cultural value provided to the community. The Church hall is described by the Heritage Council as follows: The Sunday school is situated to the western side of the church, constructed in 1962 of light coloured brick with a concrete tiled roof. Concrete steps lead to the entry of the Sunday school which is opposite, and in line with, the entry to the church. The façade is symmetrically designed with timber framed windows flanking the entry door. The building comprises an open hail, kitchen, office, and toilets. There are additions on the northern and western sides of the building including a covered area with sliding glass doors that open to the lawn areas on the western side of the site. The Sunday school building is a utilitarian structure of no particular architectural style. ) Normariby Road, Inglewood WA 6052 I adniiii©urbanistapIannng.corn.au I www.urbanstaplanning.com.au Attachment 3 REC U R B A N I S T A TOWN PLANNING bilf. All V All Figure 1: Serbian Orthodox Church as viewed from Smith St (left) and from the rear of the building (right). Proposed Works The works which are proposed as part of this application relate only to Church hail. The works which are proposed to the building will improve the presentation of the building and the standard of amenities for visitors. The most substantial works form part of the second storey addition which is proposed at the rear of the site. The second storey floor space will improve the function of the Church hail area by enhancing its ability to provide a comfortable level of service to community members. A dedicated classroom and library area will create a better learning environment for students. The works proposed are listed below: • internal refurbishment of ground floor to include the relocation of the kitchen area and store room from the western side of the building to the northern side. This results in a minor increase of floor area to the ground floor; • Men's toilets upgraded and amended so that they can be accessed internally. The toilets are currently only accessed from outside the building; • The inclusion of a Unisex Acrod toilet in accordance with the National Building Code; • The construction of a second storey, comprising of a class room, library, two offices and associated toilet areas. This extension adds a total of 164sq.m of floor area to the building. Heritage Impact and Design Statement The plans for the proposed alterations and second storey addition to the Church hail were guided three objectives which helped to inform the design process. These objectives include the need to for the building to provide standards which satisfy current building code requirements, additions to the upper floor to facilitate the orderly function of Church administration and student learning experience and the / Attachment 3 U R B A N I S T A T 0 W N P L A N N I N 0 careful integration of any new works to the building to ensure they are compatible with the Church and its heritage elements. To ensure that the works respect and serve to enhance the qualities of the Church building, the second storey addition has been proposed to the rear of the site in order to address any perceived impact in relation to bulk, height and scale. The second storey is not visible from Smith Street or in the area in front of the Church hall. This ensures that the two buildings maintain their existing relationship with respect to the height and bulk. The colours, materials and finishes which have been selected allow the building to generate interest and articulation for visual amenity in a mannerism which is modest and respectful of the Church.