About the Reformed Residential Zones Geoff Underwood Chairman Reformed Zones Ministerial Advisory Committee.

About the Reformed Residential Zones

Geoff UnderwoodChairmanReformed Zones Ministerial Advisory Committee

A potted version of

What they are

Where they go

How we got here

More information

The news is

There will be three new residential zones 1. the Neighbourhood Residential Zone

2. the General Residential Zone, and

3. the Residential Growth Zone

Making up the suite of six zones to be known as the residential zones are

4. the Low Density Residential Zone

5. the Township Zone, and

6. the Mixed Use Zone

The Residential Growth Zone has a purpose

To provide housing at increased densities in buildings up to and including four storey buildings

The zone will target and bring about residential growth with housing at increased densities in buildings up to and including 4 storeys with a default height of 13.5 metres

The General Residential zone has purposes

To encourage development that respects the neighbourhood character of the area

To implement neighbourhood character policy and adopted neighbourhood character guidelines

To provide a diversity of housing types and moderate housing growth in locations offering good access to services and transport

The General Residential Zone

The zone will provide for moderate growth and development that respects the character of an area with ResCode as the basis for assessment of permit applications for multi dwellings

The Neighbourhood Residential Zone has purposes

To recognise areas of predominantly single and double storey residential development

To limit opportunities for increased residential development

To manage and ensure that development respects the identified neighbourhood character, heritage, environmental or landscape characteristics

The Neighbourhood Residential Zone

The zone will limit opportunities for residential development with buildings to a default maximum height of 8 metres and with a no more than 2 dwellings on a lot subject to the council scheduling maximum numbers

At a glance

Messages

Cannot translate present zones to new zones

o the provisions and requirements are not equivalent

Messages

Councils need to think strategically about where the new zones are applied

o can be applied to differentiate residential areas

o can achieve varying densities and built form outcomes

o development of multiple housing types and forms can be more directly specified

Messages

think about local housing strategies that collectively achieve the future housing needs of Victoria

balance demand for housing yet identify and protect liveability and neighbourhood character attributes

A second glance

Zone selection principles

From the proposals

Purpose Likely application

RGZ Enables new housing growth and diversity in appropriate locations

In appropriate locations near activity areas, train stations and other areas suitable for increased housing activity

GRZ Respects and preserves neighbourhood character while allowing moderate housing growth and diversity

In most residential areas where moderate growth and diversity of housing that it is consistent with existing neighbourhood character is to be provided

NRZ Restricts housing growth in areas identified for urban preservation

In areas where single dwellings prevail and change is not identified, such as areas of recognised neighbourhood character, environmental or landscape significance

Committee’s location principles

Some principles can be deduced from the purposes of the zones

Locations offering good access to services, transport and other infrastructure

Areas which provide a transition between areas of more intensive use and development and areas of restricted housing growth

Areas without good supporting transport infrastructure or other infrastructure, facilities and services and not likely to be improved in the medium to longer term

Areas with Neighbourhood Character Overlays

Residential areas with Heritage Overlays (such as larger heritage precincts, rather than individually recognised heritage sites)

Areas of identified environmental or landscape significance.

Zone selection criteria

Potential criteria

Applicable to

Neighbourhood Residential Zone (low levels of residential change)

General Residential Zone (minimal to moderate levels of residential change)

Residential Growth Zone (high levels of residential change)

Character

1 Neighbourhood character (evidence through HO, NCO, DDO, significant intactness)

Yes Yes No

2 Emerging or preferred neighbourhood character (evidence with DDO)

No No Yes

3 Existing Landscape Character (evidence through SLO, ESO, Local Policy)

Yes Yes No

4 Risk associated with known hazard (evidenced through BMO, LSIO or EMO for fire, flood and landslip)

High Low Low

5 Level of development activity (existing and desired) Low Low/moderate High

6 Brownfield/urban renewal site/area No No Yes

Zone selection criteria

Potential criteria

Applicable to

Neighbourhood Residential Zone (low levels of residential change)

General Residential Zone (minimal to moderate levels of residential change)

Residential Growth Zone (high levels of residential change)

Strategic

7 Housing and Development Strategy Yes No Yes

8 Identified in Activities Area structure plan/policy

No No Yes

9 Commercial or industrial land for redevelopment not in Activities Area (strategic justification for rezoning required)

No Yes Yes

10 Access to employment options No No Yes

Zone selection criteria

Potential criteria

Applicable to

Neighbourhood Residential Zone (low levels of residential change)

General Residential Zone (minimal to moderate levels of residential change)

Residential Growth Zone (high levels of residential change)

Context

11 Good access to local shopping No No Yes

12 Good access to local community services

No No Yes

13 Good access to transport choices No No Yes

Number of submissions by submitter type

Issues

Last of the key issues

1. Commercial creep into residential locations

2. Allowing small-scale complementary commercial uses in the Residential Growth Zone

Commercial creep

The issue: restricting non-residential uses in the NRZ and GRZ

The aim: To better protect residential amenity

The outcome: added section 1 conditionsabout floorspace caps a main road location for uses car parking requirements

Small-scale complementary commercial uses

The issue: more as-of-right uses meant no development control

The aim: better protection of residential areas

The outcome: varied the use controls in the NRZ, GRZ and RGZ: uses now section 2 and need permit for buildings & works

Closing

The Committee broadly endorsed the Government’s approach

Government supported 18 of 21 recommendations

Road testing to get underway

More information on DPCD website