C4.A Residential Development - General


    C4.A1 Building heights

    Objectives

  • To ensure the height of buildings is appropriate for the context and character of the area.
  • To ensure building height reflects the hierarchy of centres and land uses.

Control

C4.1 A maximum height limit of 9m is permitted where no height limit is specified under the Port Stephens Local Environmental Plan .


C4.A2 Building setbacks

Note

Unless otherwise noted, setbacks for development are measured from the subject property boundary.

Objectives

  • To ensure development contributes to the streetscape and does not detract from the amenity of the area.
  • To reduce the visual bulk of buildings from the street and provide for articulation in front facades.
  • To ensure development is appropriately setback from the public domain

Controls

Development is to be setback in accordance with the following:

C4.2 Front setbacks:

    • A minimum of 4.5m or the existing average building line of the adjoining properties (whichever is less).
      Exception:
      Development in the Koala Bay – Tanilba Bay area (applies to land as shown in Figure 36, below) is to provide a minimum front setback of 6m to allow for Koala movement.
      • Architectural features, such as an entry porch or deck, may encroach on the front setback by up to 1.5m.


    Figure 36: Koala Bay – Tanilba Bay land application map


    C4.3 Side setbacks:

    • Single-storey: 0.9m (up to 4.5m)
    • Two-storey: 1.5m (above 4.5m)
    • Three-storey (or above): 3m
    C4.4  Secondary setbacks:
    • A minimum of 3m from the secondary property boundary.
    • Architectural features, such as an entry porch or deck may encroach on the side setback up to 1m.
      C4.5 Rear setbacks:
      • Single-storey: 2m (up to 4.5m)
      • Second-storey: 4m (above 4.5m)
      • Three-storey (or above): 6m
        C4.6 Setbacks from public land, including waterfront land
        • Single-storey: 3m (up to 4.5m)
        • Two-storey: 5.5m (above 4.5m)
        • Three-storey (or above): 8m
          C4.7 A secondary dwelling may be set back a minimum of 0.9m from the rear property boundary.

          C4.8 On battle axe sites, a minimum setback of 0.9m must be provided from a battle-axe lot handle, access corridor or access easement.
          Exception : Development on battle axe sites with rear lane access may be built to the rear of the property boundary.
            C4.9 Garages must be setback a minimum of 5.5m from the front boundary or located 1m behind the building line, whichever is greater.


              C4.A3 Streetscape and privacy

              Objectives

              • To ensure development contributes to the streetscape and does not detract from the amenity of the area.
              • To ensure development provides passive surveillance and adequate visual privacy.

              Controls

              C4.10 Development is to address the street by having at least one habitable room, face the primary street.

              C4.11 Development on corner lots is to address both street frontages by having habitable rooms face both streets.

              C4.12 Dwellings shall provide direct and legible pedestrian access from the street to the front entry.

              C4.13 Balconies and windows are designed/located to minimise overlooking adjoining properties.

              C4.14  Privacy screens, high-light windows or opaque glass is to be used for windows of habitable rooms (other than bedrooms) that overlook adjoining properties.

              C4.15  Privacy screens are required for balconies and patios which result in unreasonable privacy impacts on adjoining properties.


                C4.A4 Site coverage and landscaping

                This control does not apply to housing on land zoned R5 Large Lot Residential, RU1 Primary Production and RU2 Rural Landscape.

                Objectives

                • To provide landscape planting that improves visual amenity, privacy, outlook, views and recreational opportunities for residents and occupants within a development.
                • To provide landscaping that complements the nature and scale of the development and contributes to the desired streetscape character.
                • To mitigate the impacts of climate change and urban heat effect using landscaped areas and deep soil planting.

                Control

                C4.16 Landscaping is to be provided as the following:
                • 25% of the site area to be ‘soft’ landscaping, excluding all hardstand areas.
                • 5% of the site area to be suitable for deep soil planting.


                  C4.A5 Private open space

                  Objectives

                  • To ensure that dwellings are provided with functional, well located areas of private open space.
                  • To ensure that private open space is integrated with, and is directly accessible from, the living areas of a dwelling.

                  Controls

                  C4.17 A minimum area of 24m2 of ground floor private open space for each dwelling:
                  • has minimum dimensions of 4m x 4m;
                  • has direct access from internal living areas;
                    • is not located in the front setback.

                      C4.18 Where development cannot provide private open space on the ground floor, provision shall be made for a balcony of not less than 16m2 with a minimum depth of 2.5m for use as private open space.

                      C4.19 Private open space must have a minimum of three hours direct sunlight between the hours of 9am - 3pm at midwinter (21 June).

                      C4.20 Direct sunlight must reach 50% of the principal area of private open space of any adjacent dwelling for at least three hours between 9 am and 3 pm at midwinter (21 June).


                      C4.A6 Natural ventilation

                      Objectives

                      • To ensure all habitable rooms are naturally ventilated.
                      • To ensure a comfortable indoor environment is created for residents.

                      Controls

                      C4.21 Doors and windows maximise natural ventilation opportunities by using the following design solutions (see Figure 37):

                      • Windows are adjustable with large openable areas;
                      • Window types such as awnings and louvres, are varied to provide both safety and flexibility; and
                      • Windows such as vertical louvres and casement windows and externally opening doors can be reconfigured to capture cross-ventilation to assist cooling.


                      Figure 37: Cross ventilation


                      C4.A7 Garages and driveways

                      Objective

                      • To ensure car parking caters for anticipated vehicle movements to and from the development and does not adversely impact visual amenity.
                      • Controls
                      • C4.22  A driveway must have a minimum width of 3m.

                      C4.23 Garage doors have a maximum width of 6m for residential lots or 50% of the building frontage, whichever is less.

                      C4.24 Carports have:

                      • a minimum side and rear setback of 0.9m; and
                      • a maximum height of 3.6m, or if attached to a single-storey dwelling, be no higher than the roof gutter line; and
                      • at least two open sides and not less than one third of its perimeter open; and
                      • a design that is integrated with the existing dwelling; and
                      • an opening not exceeding 6m or 50% of the building frontage, whichever is less, if the carport fronts the street.

                      C4.25 Carports are preferred within the side or rear setbacks, but may be considered in the front setback where:

                      • the design is integrated with, and sympathetic to, the existing dwelling; and
                      • it is compatible with the existing streetscape.

                        Note

                        Where the controls above cannot be achieved, the application must provide justification for varying the development standards.


                        C4.A8 Site facilities

                        Objective

                        • To ensure development provides appropriate facilities and services in the most appropriate site location.

                        Controls

                        C4.26 An adequately screened waste storage and recycling area is to be provided.

                        C4.27 A suitable open-air area for clothes drying is to be provided for each dwelling behind the building line with a northerly aspect.


                        C4.A9 Ancillary development

                        Objectives

                        • To ensure ancillary developments do not adversely impact the amenity of the surrounding area.
                        • To ensure ancillary developments are consistent with the surrounding area in terms of height, bulk and scale.

                        Controls

                        C4.28 Sheds in a residential zone (except R5 Large Lot Residential) should:
                        • have a maximum floor area of:
                            • 45m2, if the lot has an area of less than 450m2; or
                            • 60m2, if the lot has an area of at least 450m2 but less than 900m2; or
                            • 100m2, if the lot has an area of at least 900m2; and
                            1. have a maximum height of 3.6m (from existing ground level); and
                            2. have minimum side and rear setback of 0.9m; and
                            3. be located a minimum of 1m behind the building line or setback.
                              C4.29 Front fences, including any fencing forward of the building line, should:
                              • have a maximum height of 1.2m; and
                              • not be of solid construction; and
                              • be compatible with street facilities, such as mailboxes, and allow easy access to public utilities.

                              Front fences and fences on secondary frontages that face main roads may have a maximum height of 1.5m.

                              C4.30 Side and rear fences should:

                              • have a maximum height of 1.8m from existing ground level; and
                              • be constructed from fencing materials that reflect the context and character of the area; and
                              • if located within the root zone of an existing tree, be constructed of lightweight suspended panels supported by posts with pier footings, and
                              • not encroach on the front setback area of any dwelling (side fences).

                                C4.31 Swimming pools must:

                                • be setback behind the existing building line (exceptions may apply for swimming pools on secondary road frontages), and
                                • have the water edge setback at least 1m from the side and rear boundaries, and
                                • not be more than 600mm above ground level (existing).
                                • The height of coping and decking around a swimming pool must:
                                    • have a maximum decking height of 1.4m above ground level (existing), and
                                    • have a maximum coping width of 300mm wide if more than 600mm above ground level (existing).
                                    •  In the Koala Bay – Tanilba Bay area, swimming pools are to provide a 50mm diameter rope or greater is affixed or left dangling at least one metre in the water body; or the water body is battered to no less than 1:20 to enable Koala exit.

                                    C4.32 Water features and ponds must:

                                    • not have a water depth of more than 300mm.
                                    • be protected by at least one of the following, if any water depth is greater than 300mm:
                                      • covered with a bolted or anchored grate that is capable of supporting a weight of 150kg.
                                      • surrounded by a child resistant barrier complying with Australian Standard 1926.1 (Swimming pool safety).
                                      C4.33 Retaining walls must:
                                        • be located wholly within the property boundary, including the retaining walls, footings and associated drainage works.
                                        • be designed in a manner that maintains amenity and privacy for residents of the subject dwelling and adjoining dwellings.
                                        • have a maximum height of 1m, (if necessary to exceed 1m, tiered retaining walls have a maximum height of 1m per tier and a minimum 900mm separation between tiers).
                                        • be of masonry construction if located within 900mm of the property boundary and greater than 600mm in height.
                                        • Where retaining walls for fill purposes are located within 1m of a side or rear boundary, they shall be limited to a maximum height of 600mm.