Published on Friday, 25 February 2022 at 1:24:57 PM
Mount Hawthorn residents are invited to have their say on two proposed Character Areas as part of the City of Vincent’s amended draft local planning policy.
A Character Area is a collection of houses that has aesthetic value.
Character Areas contain bespoke planning controls for the area but are very different to a heritage listing as they still allow for demolition of the house.
The City is currently reviewing its Character Areas and Heritage Areas policy, which aims to identify areas that contain characteristics that are valued by the community and provide guidance on development.
Two Character Areas - 55-90 Kalgoorlie Street, between Ashby and Berryman Streets, and 1-25 Wilberforce Street, have been proposed to be added to the policy on top of the existing nine areas.
Kalgoorlie Street is home to century-old original character homes and more contemporary designed dwellings.
Most of the dwellings on Wilberforce Street are original to the street, including character homes dating back from the turn of the century.
Draft guidelines for these areas are now out for public comment.
The main objectives include the retention and conservation of original dwellings, protection and enhancement of existing streetscape character and retention of the visual character of late 19th to early 20th century residential.
The draft guidelines also encourage new developments that complement the scale and bulk of the original street pattern, built form that incorporates consistent physical elements without the requirement to mimic the style of the original character dwellings, the absence of visually intrusive car parking and low or visually permeable boundary fences.
Mayor Emma Cole said the City wanted to see a high standard of architectural and sustainable design solutions for new developments and additions to existing homes as part of the proposed character areas.
“We are lucky in Vincent to have beautiful leafy streets filled with character homes and history. Wilberforce Street and Kalgoorlie Street are unique streets and the residents have let us know they are keen to better define this,” she said.
“We are seeking residents’ views on what characteristics they love about these streets and how the City of Vincent could encourage keeping the character and better manage house extensions and new developments to complement this.
“Character Area guidelines are designed to enhance the existing development requirements when you look to build on your land.
“They provide specific guidance on key elements that are valued by the community and that the community would like to see supported.
“These elements can include encouraging low style fencing at the front of home, the setback of second storeys or not having carports and garages out front.”
Wilberforce Street resident Ellie Savory said the proposal was a good opportunity to respect history and architectural style without being too prohibitive to property owners.
“Wilberforce Street is so unique in that it is overwhelmingly intact in its original architecture,” she said.
“My home was built in 1924 – it’s 98 years old.
“It’s mind-blowing to think of all the history this house and all the people who have lived in it have experienced and the near century of the passing of the seasons it has endured.
“I love its warmth and homeliness, the artistry and craftsmanship that went into making houses like this.”
The leafy corridor with mature Queensland Box verge trees, the houses, gardens and sense of pride among the residents were some of Ms Savory’s favourite characteristics of her street.
“I hope that more Vincent property owners take this opportunity to preserve the character and ambience of their street, block or suburb,” she said.
“The great cities of Europe, which travellers flock to, are ones that have preserved their architectural histories and we should too.”
If supported by the community, the Character Areas will have an assessed level of character which will apply to that area for development that faces the street.
As part of the Character Area process, some changes to development requirements are proposed.
The changes aim to enhance desirable character elements within the streets and will be considered and determined in consultation with the community.
Should there be no changes requested by the community as part of a consultation process, the draft guidelines will be recommended to be adopted by council at a later date.
The City will be holding a community forum on 9 March at the Mount Hawthorn Lesser Hall, 197 Scarborough Beach Road, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm.
Residents can fill out a survey on the Imagine Vincent website or send feedback to mail@vincent.wa.gov.au
For information, call the City’s strategic planner Cameron Hartley on (08) 6112 5825.
Public submissions close on March 21.
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