Plans for a 42-lot residential development in Myocum have taken a significant step forward after Byron Council agreed to enter into a voluntary planning agreement (VPA) with the owners of the site.
The owners of 53 McAuleys Lane have applied for their land to be rezoned so that it can be subdivided into 35 large residential lots and seven community title lots.
An assessment of the road safety impacts of the project found that it would require improvements to a section of McAuleys Lane, and an upgrade of the intersection with Mullumbimby Road.
In a bid to convince Council that it would undertake these works at no cost to the community, the owners submitted to Council a letter of offer to enter into a voluntary planning agreement to fund the required works.
At last week’s planning meeting, Council accepted this letter of offer, but not before insisting on a series of amendments designed to meet the safety concerns of local residents.
These concerns were articulated at last week’s meeting by neighbouring landowner and local resident’s group representative, Matthew O’Reilly.
‘This property has been earmarked for rural settlement for a while, and the proposed number of lots is in keeping with the rural development strategy’, he said.
‘But the changes proposed with the traffic situation, will have serious impacts for people turning into Saddle Road from Mullumbimby Road.’
In a bid to address these and other safety concerns, Council requested that the owners provide a slip lane for turning into Saddle Road from Mullumbimby Road that provides better safety and access for cyclists, pedestrians and all road users.
The owners will also be required to undertake safety upgrades to accommodate pedestrian and cycle links from the development site to Mullumbimby Road, and integrate pedestrian and cycle links within the proposed McAuleys Lane/Mullumbimby Road intersection upgrade.
Proceeds to DPIE
With the voluntary planning agreement now resolved, the proposal will now proceed to the Department of Planning for an initial determination.
It will then go on public exhibition before moving into the development application stage.
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