41 McLaren Street North Sydney - Mod 1 Design Changes

I am writing in relation to 41 McLaren Street North Sydney – Modification 1.

The original planning application SSD-46014456 in my honest belief was approved with the knowledge that the side street being Harnett Street was not to be used for parental drop-off and pick-up of their school children. I say honest belief, because I cannot find the documentation for this claim as today being 17th April is the last day for submissions and I have been away in Brisbane tending to an elderly relative

With the Modification 1 drawings, it now appears that a driveway will be constructed at the southern end of the building in Harnett Street. This driveway modification is listed as “S1.08_HARNETT STREET FACADE ALINGMENT MODIFICATION”. From this modification, vehicles will as detailed in the drawing, enter from the street and drive downwards from a newly constructed driveway, underground to the opposite side of the building where there will be a dedicated drop-off and pick-up point. The vehicle will then drive to a currently existing driveway to exit at the northern end of the building in Harnett Street.

I wish to the following concerns regarding the construction of this new driveway.
• The driveway will result in the removal of at least two existing car parking bays in Harnett Street. The paid parking limit for these parking bays is 30 minutes. These bays generally used during the day 4 patience and especially elderly patients attending the nearby medical centres they will be with you. Additionally parking in north Sydney and Harnett Street is becoming quite a premium and with the soon to be opening of the 400 apartment Aurora building along with a new building to be built on the eastern side of McLaren and Harnett Streets and the opening of Victoria Cross Metro, demand for parking and especially visitor parking on the weekends greatly increase.

• The new driveway is planned to be constructed directly opposite the parking access for the building (where I live) being 150 Walker Street. Access to the building parking is by 2 garage doors which allow for a single vehicle to be driven onto an elevator and then lowered to the basement car park. To enter or exit the garage from street level, vehicles must be able to swing wide and at least one minute is required to be for the lift to be raised from the lower floor to street level.

• Harnett Street is a narrow dead-end street with a length of approximately 200 metres. It has a narrow width which barely allows enough room for three cars wide to pass. If some parking will still exist between the new driveway and the existing driveway, then I strongly believe as do many other residents and nearby neighbours that the traffic congestion of vehicles both entering and exiting Harnett St during school drop off and pick up times will be very congested and hazardous with the potential for accidents.

• In relation to my concerns regarding the potential traffic congestion, I kindly ask whether a traffic management plan and risk assessment analysis has been conducted.

• The building is a Harry Seidler building which I believe may be heritage listed. Any construction of the proposed new driveway will entail major external modifications to the façade of the building and change the buildings external appearance.

I thank-you for reading my letter of concern. I am not objecting to the interior conversion of a building to a new school. However, as listed I do have great concerns for the realistic potential of traffic congestion and hazards.

Kind Regards

John Eriksson

RE : SSD-46014456-Mod-1 (Re Modification application to the approved Stage 1 development)
I have a few concerns about the school development as a neighbouring landowner.
1. General concern about noise from the school like the music room /band room. Etc
2. No obstruction from any structures that will impact my/our current view.
3. No exit from the school into Faith Bandler laneway.
4. Above all privacy of residents at this address from students looking directly into our apartments.
I am hopeful that all of the above has already been taken into account.

Thanking you
Yours sincerely

I was stunned to see the number of students planned for attendance at this new school in North Sydney - near 1600 - in an already overcrowded tiny pocket of what was previously a pleasant area to live - The traffic issues are hugely concerning - already school drop-off and pick-up times are a traffic and pedestrian nightmare in this area of Walker St and I can't imagine the impact this development will have on road safety. I do hope families intending to send their children to this school are aware of these diabolical traffic concerns and ensuing road safety issues the project will produce.