About the Reformed Residential Zones Geoff Underwood Chairman Reformed 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 PurposeLikely application RGZEnables new housing growth and diversity in appropriate locations In appropriate locations near activity areas, train stations and other areas suitable for increased housing activity GRZRespects 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 NRZRestricts 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 1Neighbourhood character (evidence through HO, NCO, DDO, significant intactness) Yes No 2Emerging or preferred neighbourhood character (evidence with DDO) No Yes 3Existing Landscape Character (evidence through SLO, ESO, Local Policy) Yes No 4Risk associated with known hazard (evidenced through BMO, LSIO or EMO for fire, flood and landslip) HighLow 5Level of development activity (existing and desired)LowLow/moderateHigh 6Brownfield/urban renewal site/areaNo 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 7Housing and Development StrategyYesNoYes 8Identified in Activities Area structure plan/policy No Yes 9Commercial or industrial land for redevelopment not in Activities Area (strategic justification for rezoning required) NoYes 10Access to employment optionsNo 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 11Good access to local shoppingNo Yes 12Good access to local community servicesNo Yes 13Good access to transport choicesNo 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 conditions about 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