Submissions for Residential Zones – Draft Planning Scheme Amendment C179 have now closed. People could make a submission from Monday 4 August to 5pm Friday 29 August.

The proposed changes only relate to residentially zoned areas of the City of Melbourne. This includes: parts of Kensington, Parkville, Carlton, South Yarra, North, East and West Melbourne and Jolimont.

These areas are not expected to experience much change, given that the vast majority of the City of Melbourne’s population growth and residential development will take place in urban renewal areas such as Southbank, City North and Arden Macaulay, and in mixed use and commercial zone areas.

In addition to residential zones, all existing provisions in the Melbourne Planning Scheme such as heritage protection, building heights and design standards will continue to apply.

The City of Melbourne’s proposed approach to the new residential zones is to:

• apply the Neighbourhood Residential Zone to increase controls on development in specific areas
• continue to allow limited change through the application of the General Residential Zone
• allow the continued redevelopment of the housing estates and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital site in Carlton and to part of the Parkville Gardens Estate through the application of the Residential Growth Zone

*See the fact sheet in the document library for details on where and how the zones will be applied.

The new residential zones are:

1 Neighbourhood Residential Zone(External link)

It limits housing growth and density. It allows for predominantly single dwellings with some dual-occupancies. It includes a mandatory maximum building height for residential buildings of 8 metres, although a higher or lower mandatory maximum building height can be set by Council.

2 General Residential Zone(External link)

It allows modest housing growth and diversity that respects the neighbourhood character. It allows a mixture of single dwellings, dual occupancies with some villa units and in limited circumstances town houses, where appropriate. It includes a discretionary maximum building height for residential buildings of 9 metres, although a higher or lower maximum mandatory building height can be set by Council.

3 Residential Growth Zone(External link)

It supports housing growth and diversity. It allows a diverse mix of dwellings including town houses and apartments. It includes a discretionary maximum building height for residential buildings of 13.5 metres; although a higher or lower maximum mandatory building height can be set. It allows for a slightly wider range of non-residential uses to serve local community needs in appropriate locations.

The City of Melbourne generally applies the Capital City Zone, Dockland Zone, Comprehensive Development Zone and Mixed Use Zone to areas where residential growth can occur and applies residential zones to the stable residential areas.

The City of Melbourne’s proposed approach is to:

• apply the Neighbourhood Residential Zone to increase controls on development in specific
  areas
• continue to allow limited change respectful of the neighbourhood character through the application of the General Residential Zone
• allow the continued redevelopment of the housing estates and the Queen Elizabeth Hospital site in Carlton and to parts of the Parkville Gardens Estate through the application of the Growth Residential Zone

The Neighbourhood Residential Zone is proposed to be applied to areas:

• identified as ‘stable residential areas’ in the Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS); and,
• within a precinct Heritage Overlay; and,
• with streetscapes (street corner to street corner) comprising almost entirely (at least 80%) of lots with one or two dwellings.

Residential zones guide decisions about planning, determining what kind of development is allowed on or near your property.

In addition to residential zones, all existing provisions in the Melbourne Planning Scheme such as heritage protection, building heights and design standards will continue to apply.

You can type your address into the interactive map on this page to find out more about the draft amendment and how it applies to your street or area.

Questions about these zones can be directed to Dianna Siomos, Strategic Planner at the City of Melbourne on 9658 8404 or diasio@melbourne.vic.gov.au.

All submissions will be considered by the Residential Zones Standing Advisory Committee. Anyone who makes a submission will also have an opportunity to be heard by the Residential Zones Standing Advisory Committee.

A public hearing is scheduled for the week of Monday 15 September 2014. If you wish to present at the hearing, please complete the relevant section of the submission coversheet.

Questions about the advisory committee, making a submission, or the public hearing, can be directed to Ms Jessica Cutting, Senior Project Manager at Planning Panels Victoria on 8392 6383 or jessica.cutting@dtpli.vic.gov.au.

The advisory Committee will provide its advice on the method and proposed application of the zones into the Melbourne Planning Scheme to the Minister for Planning within 20 business days after completion of the hearing.

The Residential Growth Zone includes a default discretionary maximum building height of 13.5 metres.

The General Residential Zone includes a default discretionary maximum building height of 9 metres. Council does not propose to vary this height. However, it should be noted that the height of development permitted in some areas is already specified in other controls in the Melbourne Planning Scheme, such as the schedules to the Design and Development Overlay. Some of these existing height controls are mandatory, i.e. cannot be exceeded. All existing height controls will remain.

The Neighbourhood Residential Zone includes a default mandatory (i.e. cannot be exceeded) maximum building height of 8 metres. The City of Melbourne is proposing to vary this maximum mandatory residential building height in specific areas.

The proposed mandatory maximum residential building heights for Neighbourhood Residential Zone areas are either:

• in line with existing height controls, where these already apply through Design and Development Overlays (DDOs);
• or the NRZ’s default eight metres height control (exemptions are included to take into account the height of existing buildings, ground level and architectural features).

The city is aiming to provide a diversity of housing to meet the needs of existing and future populations. The majority of housing growth is expected to occur in the urban renewal areas and the Hoddle Grid.

Applying the General Residential Zone will allow in-fill development and alterations and additions which fit in with the existing valued character, thereby contributing to the provision of housing choice and a variety of dwelling types.

Applying the Residential Growth Zone will support the provision of medium density housing in these locations.

In the General Residential Zone and the Residential Growth Zone, there is no limit to the number of dwellings. This is the same as it was previously under the Residential 1 Zone and the Residential 2 Zone.

In the Neighbourhood Residential Zone, a maximum number of two dwellings is allowed, unless another maximum number of dwellings is stated in a schedule to the zone.

The City of Melbourne is proposing a maximum of two dwelling on a lot in all the Schedules to the Neighbourhood Residential Zone. However, an exemption is proposed to be included to ensure existing development rights are maintained where sites already contain more than two dwellings.