Page 750 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 26 February 2013
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applicants and satisfy an increasing demand for affordable housing for people of all ages and states of health.
Recommendations 11, 12 and 13 relate to the development of precinct codes and the definition of “desired character”. Precinct codes were developed for every suburb in Canberra in December 2012 and incorporate the area-specific policies that were previously contained in other parts of the territory plan. The wording of residential zone objectives proposed by the draft variation is considered to be sufficient to differentiate between the five residential zones and establish a basis for describing “desired character”.
As the proposed definition of “desired character” implies a future state, it does not need to be expressed as “desired future character”. There will be opportunity to include more specific statements of desired character in suburb precinct codes. Some of these statements will be informed by previous neighbourhood planning processes. The ESDD website contains information regarding unit titling and dual occupancies. In response to the committee’s recommendation 14, the government will review the current unit titling restrictions on dual occupancies.
In response to recommendation 15, the government considers that draft variation 306 supports a fifty-fifty infill objective as well as housing affordability and the government’s greenhouse gas reduction targets. Although the proposed RZ2 provisions will effectively limit the number of multi-unit dwellings permitted on a site, other changes proposed in the variation will enable other forms of infill development in established areas. These include reducing the minimum block size for a dual occupancy from 800 to 700 square metres and the new secondary residence provisions.
Reducing the minimum block size to 700 square metres in RZ2 will increase the number of blocks available for dual occupancy development. In addition, the secondary residence provisions will significantly increase the potential for additional dwellings in residential areas. These two changes will help achieve greater diversity, increased density and improved housing affordability.
The solar access provisions included in the residential development codes aim to protect the solar access of neighbours. The codes also require a certain amount of sunlight to living areas on the winter solstice. These provisions, as well as the requirements of the building code, improve the energy efficiency of residences and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The estate development code requires new blocks to comply with the block compliance tables or meet the criterion that the orientation of the block facilitates a dwelling on the block to achieve passive solar energy efficiency. Ensuring that the size, slope and orientation of new blocks allow a solar passive residence to be constructed on it assists in achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets. Provisions in the estate development code promote alternate modes of transport to assist in reducing the dependence on motor vehicles, thereby also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
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