2019-12-10 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                             10 DECEMBER 2019


B.   Find the following matters relevant to the assessment and sufficient reason to approve the
     application:
     1.     The proposed use provides a highly valued community service and facility for the
            community and opportunities for social interaction for all members.
     2.     The site has not been used for residential purposes for a significant period of time as
            it was approved for Professional Offices in 1981.
     3.     The draft scheme proposes to re-zone the site to Community Facilities Zone
            (annotation 6 – Educational Establishment) under which the proposal would be a
            consistent use subject to code assessment.
C.   That Council resolve that any future application fees to change or delete condition 8 will be
     waived.
D.   Note the report is provided in accordance with Section 63(5) of the Planning Act 2016.


REPORT
1.   PROPOSAL
The applicant seeks approval for an existing Community Use, defined as ‘Education - Type 3
Adult’. The use is currently operated by the University of the Third Age Noosa Regional U3A Inc
(U3A Noosa) within an existing office building located at 64 Poinciana Ave Tewantin (aka Mitchel
House), refer to Figure 1. At the time the application was made in October 2018 the applicant
advised that Noosa U3A had approximately 800 members.
The applicant describes the proposed use as follows:
“U3A Noosa is a self-help self-managed, not-for-profit organisation catering to the local
community who are no longer in full-time work, semi or fully retired.
Members come and learn together, not for qualifications but for its own reward; the sheer joy of
discovery.”
The proposal includes utilising part of the existing Catholic church’s car park located at 5
Moorindil Street, Tewantin (refer to Figure 2). The use of this car park is proposed to be secured
via a lease agreement between the applicant and property owner.
Specifically the proposed use seeks approval for:
   ‘Education - Type 3 Adult within the existing building. No changes to the existing building or
     outdoor area is proposed as part of this application.
   A maximum of 57 persons onsite at any time, consisting of:
     i.     50 students;
     ii.    5 tutors; and
     iii.   2 volunteer receptionists’.
   Operating times as follows:
     i.     Two Staff onsite Monday to Friday between 8.30am to 4pm; and
     ii.    Classes onsite Monday to Friday between 9am to 4pm.
   27 ‘onsite’ car parks distributed as follows:
     i.     12 car parks, including a loading bay, located onsite at 64 Poinciana Ave Tewantin;
            and
     ii.    15 carparks located onsite at 5 Moorindil Street Tewantin.


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