In accordance with the Council resolution of 10th June 2014, a Planning Proposal (rezoning application) is on exhibition between 1 October and 29 October 2014 for 654 – 666 Pacific Highway, 2A Oliver Road and 1 Freeman Road, Chatswood. The Planning Proposal involves demolition of all existing buildings and construction of a mixed use development comprising retail / office premises in the basement and ground floor and two residential towers above a podium, the northern tower being 10 storeys and the southern tower being 7 storeys.
The exhibition also includes draft amendments to Willoughby Development Control Plan and a draft Voluntary Planning Agreement and Explanatory Note.
As part of the exhibition, notification letters have been sent to surrounding neighbouring properties and the Chatswood West Ward Progress Association.
All exhibition information may be viewed on Council’s website at www.haveyoursaywilloughby.com.au.
Chatswood West Ward History 
From Clr. Saville:
I was the only councillor to vote against this spot zoning proposal)
There is now opportunity for community input
I am concerned about the development, from the size of the development, outside of agreed zoning for the area, the increase in traffic and congestion, further demand for green space due to increase in population and impact on the existing residents and so on.
The traffic congestion is serious in our area due to a couple of specific issues:
Eddy Road traffic has increasing volumes and vehicle types due to traffic access wishing to access Mowbray Rd and the additional Buses and traffic for the school;
For Oliver, Freeman, Eddy , Critchett, Sutherland, Fehon and Moriarty Rds traffic cannot turn right to travel to the city. Left turn only on Pacific Highway through and into Chatswood restrict the residents of Chatswood West to exit the area but also drastically increase the congestion in the Chatswood CBD area. If you wish to exit Chatswood West mid to late mornings on Saturday to mid afternoon it takes a long time and would be seriously concerning if there was an emergency in the area.
Access to Mowbray via Goodchap driving East or West through increased congestion is also a major issue
I do hope there is a forum in which we can discuss the development and gain community input. The officers recommendation is to support the project – it would be good to know on which criteria they approve the project.
I would like to add my voice to any spot rezoning for these excessive heights for tower blocks on the Western side of Pacific Highway.
Such a proposal would set a precedent, imposing a narrowed ‘corridor effect’ on this route, leading to congestion, an overbearing narrowing of the corridor and overshadowing.
Permitting spot zoning in this way is a contradiction of the intention of setting height limits at all in zoned areas.
The rush of high rise development two blocks further north in the CBD has placed even more pressure on this thoroughfare.
I appeal to Councillors to reconsider such a proposal and to maintain the veracity of its zoning policy throughout our City – a principle more important at this time of rapid pressure for development than at any other in our City’s past.
Concerned resident: I would like to add my voice to any spot rezoning for these excessive heights for tower blocks on the Western side of Pacific Highway.
Such a proposal would set a precedent, imposing a narrowed ‘corridor effect’ on this route, leading to congestion, an overbearing narrowing of the corridor and overshadowing.
Permitting spot zoning in this way is a contradiction of the intention of setting height limits at all in zoned areas.
The rush of high rise development two blocks further north in the CBD has placed even more pressure on this thoroughfare.
I appeal to Councillors to reconsider such a proposal and to maintain the veracity of its zoning policy throughout our City – a principle more important at this time of rapid pressure for development than at any other in our City’s past.
From a nearby resident: I think the architectural appearance of the development concept is good. On the nother hand, I dismiss the argument that the development is, or will be, pitched to meet affordable housing needs as a nonsense. In market terms, the location would rank as very valuable due to proximity to public transport, the CBD and schools. The development should optimise the value of the location and be constrained only by zoning – and appropriateness.
My chief concern is that I can find no consideration of pedestrian traffic impact. Such a development combining retail and commercial – and provision of off-street parking, would undoubtedly increase pedestrian traffic movements across the highway in the vicinity of the development. This would, in turn, see a need for increased traffic light crossing times and add to driver frustrations along the route. A remedy would be to require the development to include an underground pedestrian tunnel to allow the existing crossing to be removed and thereby contribute to pedestrian and motorist harmony. We cannot countenance any development which will further impair traffic flow along this major arterial.
I was disappointed to note the Council’s process for canvassing community feedback on this development did not include residents such as myself and presumably the many hundreds of others in the very near vicinity. I have to wonder what value at all was the feedback gained up to the point of closing the online portal on 9Nov2014. It has aroused a deep suspicion in my mind that the Council process is deeply flawed.
Comments to the JRPP hearing close on the 25 February 2016. Read more at: https://cwwpa.org/2016/02/05/654-666-pacific-highway-2/