Frangipani 88 Development Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council

Case [2021] NSWLEC 1240


Land and Environment Court


New South Wales

  • Amendment notes
Medium Neutral Citation: Frangipani 88 Development Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council [2021] NSWLEC 1240
Hearing dates: Conciliation conference on 1 April 2021
Date of orders: 12 May 2021
Decision date: 12 May 2021
Jurisdiction:Class 1
Before: Gray C
Decision:

The Court orders that:

(1) The Applicant is granted leave to rely on the following amended plans:

(a) Elevations – North & South (Drawing No. 16F-015 Revision J) prepared by ALAND dated 20 April 2021.

(b) Elevations – East & West (Drawing No. 16F-017 Revision J) prepared by ALAND dated 20 April 2021.

(c) Materials and Finishes (Drawing No. 16F-019 Revision G) prepared by ALAND dated 20 April 2021.

(2) The appeal is upheld.

(3) Modification Application No. MOD 20-00252 for the modification of the external facades of the residential flat buildings the subject of development consent JRPP-16-03332 granted by the Land and Environment Court in case number 2017/00069602 at Lot 6, DP 1223464, known as 125 Jerralong Drive, Schofields is approved in accordance with the conditions contained in Annexure ‘A’.

Catchwords:

MODIFICATION APPLICATION – conciliation conference – agreement between the parties – orders

Legislation Cited:

Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, ss 4.56, 8.9

Land and Environment Court Act 1979, s 34

Category:Principal judgment
Parties: Frangipani 88 Development Pty Ltd (Applicant)
Blacktown City Council (Respondent)
Representation:

Counsel:
P Vergotis (Solicitor) (Applicant)
D Loether (Solicitor) (Respondent)

Solicitors:
McCabe Curwood (Applicant)
Bartier Perry (Respondent)
File Number(s): 2020/346777
Publication restriction: No

Judgment

  1. COMMISSIONER: This appeal concerns a modification application that seeks to modify Condition 2.1.1 of a development consent for the construction of residential flat buildings, to make changes to the building elevations, colours and materials of the residential flat buildings approved. The development consent was granted on 18 August 2017 by the Court, and relates to land in Lot 16F in the plan of subdivision of Lot 16 DP 31797 in Jerralong Drive, Schofields. The appeal is lodged pursuant to s 8.9 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (“EPA Act”). In exercising the functions of the consent authority on the appeal, the Court has the power to determine the modification application pursuant to s 4.56(1) of the EPA Act. The final orders in this appeal, outlined in [7] below, are made as a result of an agreement between the parties that was reached following a conciliation conference.

  2. The Court arranged a conciliation conference under s 34(1) of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (“LEC Act”) between the parties, which was held on 1 April 2021. I presided over the conciliation conference.

  3. Following the conciliation conference, an agreement under s 34(3) of the LEC Act was reached between the parties as to the terms of a decision in the proceedings that was acceptable to the parties. The decision agreed upon is for the grant of the modification application subject to conditions. The signed agreement was filed on 30 April 2021.

  4. As the presiding Commissioner, I am satisfied that the decision is one that the Court can make in the proper exercise of its functions (this being the test applied by s 34(3) of the LEC Act). I form this state of satisfaction on the basis that the development to which the consent as modified relates is substantially the same development as the development for which consent was originally granted, for the reason that the modification is to the external presentation and materials used for the building, and does not alter any essential element of the approved development. I also note that the modification application was not required to be notified as all adjoining properties are owned by the same owner/developer.

  5. Having reached the state of satisfaction that the decision is one that the Court could make in the exercise of its functions, s 34(3)(a) of the LEC Act requires me to “dispose of the proceedings in accordance with the decision”. The LEC Act also requires me to “set out in writing the terms of the decision” (s 34(3)(b)).

  6. In making the orders to give effect to the agreement between the parties, I was not required to make, and have not made, any assessment of the merits of the modification application against the discretionary matters that arise pursuant to an assessment under ss 4.56(1A) and 4.15(1) of the EPA Act.

  7. The Court orders that:

  1. The Applicant is granted leave to rely on the following amended plans:

  1. Elevations – North & South (Drawing No. 16F-015 Revision J) prepared by ALAND dated 20 April 2021.

  2. Elevations – East & West (Drawing No. 16F-017 Revision J) prepared by ALAND dated 20 April 2021.

  3. Materials and Finishes (Drawing No. 16F-019 Revision G) prepared by ALAND dated 20 April 2021.

  1. The appeal is upheld.

  2. Modification Application No. MOD 20-00252 for the modification of the external facades of the residential flat buildings the subject of development consent JRPP-16-03332 granted by the Land and Environment Court in case number 2017/00069602 at Lot 6, DP 1223464, known as 125 Jerralong Drive, Schofields is approved in accordance with the conditions contained in Annexure ‘A’.

………………………

J Gray

Commissioner of the Court

Annexure A (595683, pdf)

**********

Amendments

28 May 2021 - By way of notice of motion and pursuant to UCPR r 36.17, the Court amends Condition 2.1.1 of Annexure A and renumbers the second condition 2.1.1 to read as "2.1.2".

Details
AGLC
Frangipani 88 Development Pty Ltd v Blacktown City Council [2021] NSWLEC 1240
Case
[2021] NSWLEC 1240
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Frangipani 88 Development Pty Ltd sought leave to amend the approved plans for the development of residential flats at 125 Jerralong Drive, Schofields. The Blacktown City Council opposed the amendment, arguing that the changes would affect the character of the area and did not comply with the original development consent. The dispute was heard by the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, which was tasked with determining whether the applicant was entitled to amend the approved plans and whether the amended plans complied with relevant planning laws and conditions.

The court needed to decide whether Frangipani 88 Development Pty Ltd had demonstrated a sufficient basis to justify the amendments to the approved plans, and whether the proposed changes were in compliance with the original development consent and relevant planning laws. Additionally, the court had to consider whether the modifications would adversely affect the character of the area or contravene any planning controls.

In its decision, the court found that the applicant had provided sufficient evidence to justify the proposed amendments to the approved plans. The court concluded that the changes to the elevations, materials, and finishes were consistent with the original development consent and did not alter the essential character of the development. The court also found that the amendments did not contravene any planning laws or controls. Accordingly, the court granted leave for the applicant to rely on the amended plans and approved the modification application. The court imposed certain conditions to ensure that the modified development would comply with the original consent and planning laws.

The court ordered that Frangipani 88 Development Pty Ltd be granted leave to rely on the amended plans, the appeal was upheld, and the modification application was approved subject to the conditions set out in Annexure ‘A’.

Orders

Orders of the court

The Court orders that:

(1) The Applicant is granted leave to rely on the following amended plans:

(a) Elevations – North & South (Drawing No. 16F-015 Revision J) prepared by ALAND dated 20 April 2021.

(b) Elevations – East & West (Drawing No. 16F-017 Revision J) prepared by ALAND dated 20 April 2021.

(c) Materials and Finishes (Drawing No. 16F-019 Revision G) prepared by ALAND dated 20 April 2021.

(2) The appeal is upheld.

(3) Modification Application No. MOD 20-00252 for the modification of the external facades of the residential flat buildings the subject of development consent JRPP-16-03332 granted by the Land and Environment Court in case number 2017/00069602 at Lot 6, DP 1223464, known as 125 Jerralong Drive, Schofields is approved in accordance with the conditions contained in Annexure ‘A’.

Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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