Club Sapphire has plans for 40 units on Merimbula's Main St

Valued at over $22m, the proposal involves the construction of units over five levels consisting of 28 two-bedroom dwellings and 12 three-bedroom dwellings. Car parking is proposed at the lower ground floor level. The principal access is proposed from Main Street, with a secondary access from the rear access road

The vacant site is on the high side of Main St with Top Fun amusement centre immediately adjoining and to the east consists of professional consulting rooms and the Anglican Church.

The bulk and scale of the development is broken up into two main buildings with a landscaped area at the centre. The development application proposes 40 units divided between the two blocks, one of which, facing Main St, would be of four storeys. There is lower level car parking proposed as well.

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The development application is coming to council for determination as Club Sapphire wants to vary the current site density development standard along with height and car parking requirements.

The proposal is subject to a site density standard of one dwelling per 250m2 but council staff said this would see a maximum yield of 16 dwellings for the site, something "considered well below the yield that could ordinarily be achieved within a 16m height limit".

In terms of height, the design includes a lift overrun that would encroach above the current 16m height limit, by between 300mm to 650mm. Car parking rules would normally require two spaces per residence but the development proposes a total of 65 spaces.

Council staff are recommending approval of the application but point out that "the height and number of storeys would be prominent within the streetscape given its setting among existing single storey buildings at the top of Market Street near the junction with Main Street".

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However in a report to council staff state that the site is centrally located within an area that is in need of development and therefore the minor variation to the 16m height limit is considered reasonable.

The report also says the proposed four storey development is the first development involving the 16m height limit that was introduced as part of the BVDCP 2013 and BVLEP 2013.

"The development introduces a new building element into the streetscape along Main Street in terms of overall height and scale. The design is therefore critical as it will set the scene for future development," council staff have said in the report.