What has the Development Strategy and Policy Committee decided to recommend to Council?

District Centre Zone	Existing Policy	Original DPA Proposal	Amended DPA
West of Unley Road north of Arthur Street.	No height limit.	39.5 metres (11 storey).	32.5 metres (9 storey).
West of Unley Road south of Arthur Street.	No height limit.	39.5 metres (11 storey).	32.5 metres (9 storey).
West of Unley Road adjacent to Thomas Street.	No height limit.	39.5 metres (11 storey).	18.5 metres (5 storey). Memorial Gardens recognised and building setbacks specified.
East of Unley Road north of Oxford Terrace.	No height limit.	18.5 metres (5 storey).	18.5 metres (5 storey).
East of Unley Road Community Area encompassing Oxford Terrace and Civic Centre.	Existing residential scale. No recognition of Village Green.	29 metres (8 storey).	18.5 metres (5 storey). Retain, reconfigure and enlarge a ground level Village Green.
Surrounding residential areas interface.	No building envelope. Minimum setback 8 metres, except for Unley Road, and no building envelope.	Building envelope of 30o at 3 metres above ground level from adjoin sites. Specified setbacks from residential streets based upon 30o envelope to opposite front boundaries.	Building envelope of 30o at 3 metres above ground level from adjoin sites. Minimum residential street setbacks and building envelope of 30o at 3 metres above ground level from the zone boundary at street centre-line.

 UNLEY CENTRAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AMENDMENT

What is the Unley Central Precinct Plan?

The City of Unley and the State Government hold the long-term goal of revitalising the heart of Unley by generating new activity, more sustainable retail, and increased residential living opportunities in the Unley Central area. To aid in visioning what the nature of this rejuvenation might entail, the City of Unley commissioned the preparation of the Unley Central Precinct Plan. The goals and visions set out in the Precinct Plan cannot be actioned without first amending the Council’s Development Plan for the area.

What is the Unley Central DPA?

The Development Plan is a plan required under the State Government’s Development Act to help guide new development.

Council needs to ensure that its Development Plan delivers what is needed for the future growth and prosperity of the City, while recognising its unique character.

To achieve the goals of the Unley Central Precinct Plan, Council will need to amend its current Development Plan.

The Development Plan Amendment (DPA) will encourage residential development and set a height limit for the area while providing for progressive reductions in height at the perimeter of the zone. Currently the Unley District Centre Zone has no specific building height limits or envelopes (increasing setbacks for increasing height).

As part of the process, the suburbs of the Unley Council area which are most important from a Conservation and Streetscape perspective will be given enhanced protection.

What is the position of the State Government?

The Development Plan is required to align with the State Planning Strategy (The 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide) and the South Australian Planning Policy Library template zone modules pursuant to the Development Act.  

To undertake a Development Plan Amendment the Minister has ultimate control in regard to allowing it to proceed and what is finally approved.  This is established via a Statement of Intent that is agreed to at the start of the process.

One of the objectives set by the State Government for the District Centre Zone is high density development.  It is the central heart of Unley and the core activity centre on Unley Road.  The surrounding Urban Corridor Zone template policy generally calls for 6 storey development up to 10 storey.  In 2013 the City of Unley negotiated an outcome of 5 storey for Unley Road and 7 storey for Greenhill Road.

How has Council consulted with the community?

Community consultation on the future for Unley Central and the 2014 Precinct Plan took place in November to December 2015. During this process, Council received valuable and constructive feedback on subjects such as:

• land use;

• building height;

• transport and parking;

• amenity; and

• the environment.

A further hands on stakeholder workshop (called a Design Lab), with residents, owners and local groups, was held in April 2016 to explore potential options for the Precinct.  

This feedback was considered by the City Strategy and Development Policy (CSDP) Committee and by the City of Unley Council through a series of meetings from February 2016 until the draft DPA was endorsed in August 2016. 

A formal statutory consultation on the DPA was conducted from September to in November 2016 and further personal submissions received at a Public Meeting on Tuesday 6 December at the Unley Civic Centre.

After comprehensive consideration a Summary of Consultation and Proposed Amendments Report with Options for change to key elements was presented to the CSDP Committee on Tuesday 14 March where they voted on the recommendations to be presented to Council for decision at the upcoming March Council meeting.

Where are we up to in the process?

The Unley Central DPA process is nearing its anticipated conclusion.

Council will consider the Committee’s recommendations at the March 27 Council meeting and vote on a final (amended) DPA to be submitted to the Planning Minister.

What has the Development Strategy and Policy Committee decided to recommend to Council?

The below table provides a summary of what the Committee has endorsed for Councils consideration.