A group of Nowra residents has raised concerns about an approved 22 single-room boarding house to be built in the middle of a residential area.
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Cassandra and Luke Brant have raised questions over breaches of privacy and the safety of their children if the single person affordable boarding rooms are built.
However, a Shoalhaven City Council spokesperson said the development was approved after review against all relevant policies and legislative requirements.
The application was submitted by PDC Lawyers and Town Planners on September 15, 2020 on behalf of the property owners at 82 Jervis Street, Nowra and received approval on April 23.
According to the development's social impact submission, the boarding rooms will offer an opportunity to meet the accommodation needs of people who may otherwise be unable to obtain safe and secure accommodation.
But Mrs Brant said it's not going to be a "quiet, lights-out-at-seven type of a place".
In her submission to council, Mrs Brant said she had been suffering from "substantial anxiety" over the development on a number of fronts.
"The large windows [that will overlook the rear of their property including the family's swimming pool] and the sense of always being watched and the safety of our young children and guest's children are of massive concern for us," said Mrs Brant in her submission.
Alongside Mrs Brant's submission are five other submissions from separate residents in opposition to the development.
She said she had been in contact with Shoalhaven City Council but was unhappy with their handling of the development.
A spokesperson from Shoalhaven City Council said the application was approved with the condition that existing levels of privacy will be maintained with privacy screens for all first floor windows.
But Mrs Brant said people would still be able to see into her backyard.
My kids now don't have the freedom to run around in their backyard because of this.
- Cassandra Brant
The proposed development includes two boarding houses with a total of 22 self-contained boarding rooms, 12 car parking spaces, three motorcycle spaces and three bicycle parking spaces. The maximum number of boarding house residents is 22 persons, plus one onsite manager.
Mrs Brant said there will not be enough parking included in the development which will have an impact on street parking.
However the spokesperson from council said car parking for the proposed development was assessed and found to meet requirements set out in the State Environmental Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009.
Mrs Brant's neighbour Judy Wellington has similar concerns over the development, adding there will be a significant impact to local traffic if it is built.
"It's bedlam at Jervis Street, Journal Street, Leatham Ave and Grant Street at different times of the day as it is," said Mrs Wellington.
Mrs Wellington said the neighbourhood had put up with drug houses for the past five years, and after finally cleaning up the area, she did not want a repeat.
"The council cannot guarantee that it will be peaceful down the track just the same that I can't guarantee that it won't be peaceful," said Mrs Wellington.
However, the Spokesperson from Shoalhaven City Council said housing affordability and supply is an important planning consideration for the Shoalhaven.
"So providing a range of housing types including boarding houses, group homes, conventional dwellings and higher density types of housing is important to provide different types of housing to suit different needs."
Mrs Wellington said she was in the early stages of forming a group of residents who were opposed to this development with others who are opposed to a proposed development of four single storey villas at the corner of Journal Street and St Anns Street.
Mrs Brant said council would not meet with local residents as a group to discuss their issues; instead opting to meet with a person representing all concerned residents.
She said the residents are also concerned about the devaluation of their property as a result of the social impact of the development.
"Does the public actually know this is the way council wants to develop our town? Like they want to place these one bedroom units all over our town."
PDC Lawyers and Town Planners were contacted for comment.
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