The fate of a new $3 million tavern in Yanchep has been deferred for up to three months for the applicant to address a parking shortage.
The tavern proposal for Peony Boulevard is within the carpark of Yanchep Shopping Centre and contains a large indoor seating area along with an outdoor beer garden holding up to 800 patrons.
The application was submitted to State planners by PTS Town Planning on behalf of the owner Yanchep Central Investments.
The City of Wanneroo recommended ahead of the meeting for the DAP to refuse the application due to a lack of parking with a shortfall of 178 bays, according to the city’s district planning scheme.
This was in addition to a lack of landscaping provided in the plans and no setback planned from Peony Boulevard. In the meeting the city also expressed concerns that there was no entrance to the venue from Peony Boulevard.
The tavern’s location on the carpark would remove 45 parking bays from the site if approved.
In a letter from PTS Town Planning director Peter Simpson to the DAP presiding member it noted that the tavern was originally proposed in vacant land north of the carpark however, “in discussions with the city, the city was of the view that the tavern should be located along the Peony Boulevard frontage as it provides more activity to Peony Boulevard”.
The letter also noted the applicant’s proposed condition that the parking is assessed within five years of the tavern in operation in which the landowner would construct additional bays should it be deemed necessary.
DAP deputy presiding member Ian Birch questioned the city’s need for a setback from the street and said it conflicted with the city’s desire for access from Peony Boulevard to make the site more active.
“The beer garden is as active a frontage you can get. OK you can’t move in and out of it but you’ve still got all those people occupied sitting there, so you’ve got activity on the street,” Mr Birch said.
DAP specialist member Jason Hick agreed and said he did not support the recommendation to reject the application.
“I too am not of the view to see the built form. proposed setbacks or landscaping warrant refusal,” he said.
“The landscape and built form I would see as acceptable in this case.”
The panel voted unanimously to defer the decision of the proposed application during Wednesday’s Metro Outer Development Assessment Panel meeting.
Crs Natalie Herridge and Sonet Coetzee both spoke in agreement with the city’s recommendation citing the parking problems it poses for the community.
“The parking situation may not propose an issue at present but it is likely to become more problematic in the future,” Cr Coetzee said.
“I support the recommendation to deny the application at this time considering Yanchep’s rapid expansion.”
A total of 64 submissions were received about the proposal, with 28 in support and 34 objecting to its approval.