Perth Voice Interactive

THE owner of the Charles Hotel is seeking a rezoning which, if granted, would allow up to five storeys across the 14,000sqm site.

Vincent city council wants the sprawling Charles Street site rezoned up to R100 in its new planning scheme but Chris Angelkov is angling for R160 residential-commercial.

He says he has no immediate plans to redevelop but wants “flexibility down the line”.

Neighbours are aghast, describing the council’s consultation process a shambles.

Eton Street’s Norm Wells says many residents are unaware their homes are included in the proposed R160 envelope.

“Properties that are not owned by the hotel have been included in the proposed rezoning, including some R40 single dwellings,” he says.

“Apart from one residence that is included in the proposal, but not owned by the hotel, no other affected parties appeared to have been notified.”

Former local Labor MP Bob Kucera says density of that magnitude is inappropriate for the area: “A five-storey development on either site is totally unsuited and unacceptable in this area.

“This is not a high-rise or commercial area: it is generally a quiet, well-developed residential area that has put up with the usual problems hotels cause for 30 years, largely without complaining.

“Frankly the lack of consultation has now scared the horses, with locals very concerned about the future, the value of their properties, and what may be foisted on them with any developments.”

But Mr Angelkov says Charles Street is a “major arterial route serviced by public transport, has four access roads and is an iconic destination in the area”.

“Under the new town planning scheme much smaller sites on Charles Street will become R100, so I think it is fair that we are coded higher.

“There are a lot less suitable sites in the city which are getting multi-storey approval.”

Vincent CEO Len Kosova concedes an additional mailout informing residents of the hotel’s proposal was wrong.

“In its notification letter to adjoining property owners, the city incorrectly included 124 Eton Street and 517 Charles Street as forming part of the Charles Hotel submission,” he says. “As a result of this error, some landowners requested and were granted an extension of time to provide their comments to the city.”

Vincent acting mayor Ros Harley says an open day and two public consultation forums on the new planning scheme have been held: “The extra mailout was not compulsory, but we wanted to keep residents informed.”

by STEPHEN POLLOCK