8.4. Draft Civic Precinct Planning Study AUTHOR: Pedro ...€¦ · 3731st Council Meeting - 18 May 2020 Agenda Page 85 of 608 8.4. Draft Civic Precinct Planning Study AUTHOR: Pedro

3731st Council Meeting - 18 May 2020 Agenda Page 85 of 608

8.4. Draft Civic Precinct Planning Study

AUTHOR: Pedro Garcia, Senior Strategic Planner Urban Design

ENDORSED BY: Marcelo Occhiuzzi, Acting Director City Strategy

ATTACHMENTS: 1. Civic Precinct and Surrounds - Planning Study [8.4.1 - 46 pages]2. Civic Precinct and Surrounds - Background Report [8.4.2 - 281 pages]

PURPOSE:

This report provides an overview of the draft Civic Precinct Planning Study prepared by Council in collaboration with an external team of consultants and recommends placing the study (Attachment 1) on public exhibition.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

In October 2018, North Sydney Council accepted Accelerated LEP Review Grant Funding from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. The funding aims to assist Council align the North Sydney LEP 2013 with the Greater Sydney Commission’s North District Plan (2018). As part of this effort, the Civic Precinct Planning Study was identified as one of the studies to be funded from the state grant.

The study focuses on the area directly north of North Sydney CBD. The objectives of the study are to plan for the arrival of the new metro station in 2024 and to establish the role of the Civic Precinct within the wider LGA context, developing a future vision for it.

The study has been undertaken in two stages. Stage 1 was carried out in mid-2019 to understand community’s aspirations for the area and was reported to Council in October 2019. This report presents Stage 2 of the Planning Study. Stage 2 has been developed in collaboration with an external team of consultants led by Conybeare Morrison (CM+), a leading urban design and landscape architecture firm.

Based on extensive analysis of the area, and further public consultation workshops, the consultant team has developed a suite of technical studies that underpin the draft Civic Precinct Planning Study. The draft study is at Attachment 1. The technical studies are at Attachment 2.

The draft planning study:

1. Outlines a vision and an urban structure for the Civic Precinct.2. Establishes the desired character and feel for the precinct that is supported by a series of

urban design principles to guide future growth.3. Outlines a series of strategies and actions to achieve the vision for the precinct.4. Identifies opportunities to deliver additional public domain, improve transport networks

and provide jobs and housing in appropriate locations.


The study envisions the area becoming a stronger and more attractive civic and educational campus with a low-scale and leafy character and feel. A low-scale civic campus that complements the high-density commercial cores of North Sydney CBD and St Leonards.

Actions under the planning study are:

Create more jobs and housing opportunities near the new northern Metro portal; Increase amenity and activation along the Pacific Highway; Support small to medium sized business growth; Preserve heritage; Provide urban design guidelines for education facilities; Improve public open space; Identify access and active transport network improvement opportunities; Undertake further review of Falcon Street; and Undertake further review of Civic Core.

Public benefits that may be negotiated as part of any planning proposal to amend the North Sydney LEP 2013 are a new location for Kelly’s Place Day Care, community centre, public domain upgrades, affordable housing and public art.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

On 29 October 2018, North Sydney Council accepted Accelerated LEP Review Grant Funding from the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to align the North Sydney LEP 2013 with the North District Plan (GSC 2018). The Civic Precinct Planning Study (formerly Northern CBD Planning Study) was identified as one study to be funded from the Accelerated LEP Review Grant. The study is fully grant-funded and approximately $205K has been expended to date with a small amount outstanding for exhibition and minor adjustments that may be required from the consultant team.

RECOMMENDATION: 1. THAT the draft Civic Precinct Planning Study (Attachment 1) be adopted for the purposes of public exhibition.2. THAT the draft study be placed on public exhibition for a period of 6 weeks.3. THAT relevant state authorities such as Transport for NSW (TfNSW), Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) and Greater Sydney Commission (GSC) be notified of the exhibition.4. THAT following exhibition, a report be prepared accounting for submissions made and any resulting amendments to the final Civic Precinct Planning Study.5. THAT Council note the significant risks posed by the current alignment outlined in the Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway EIS to the successful pursuit of the some of the actions recommended in this planning study. LINK TO COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLANThe relationship with the Community Strategic Plan is as follows:

1. Our Living Environment


1.1 Protected and enhanced natural environment and biodiversity1.2 North Sydney is sustainable and resilient1.3 Quality urban greenspaces1.4 Public open space and recreation facilities and services meet community needs

2. Our Built Infrastructure2.1 Infrastructure and assets meet community needs2.2 Vibrant centres, public domain, villages and streetscapes2.3 Sustainable transport is encouraged

3. Our Future Planning3.1 Prosperous and vibrant economy3.3 North Sydney is smart and innovative3.4 North Sydney is distinctive with a sense of place and quality design3.5 North Sydney is regulatory compliant

4. Our Social Vitality4.1 North Sydney is connected, inclusive, healthy and safe4.2 North Sydney is creative and home to popular events4.4 North Sydney’s history is preserved and recognised

5. Our Civic Leadership5.1 Council leads the strategic direction of North Sydney5.3 Community is informed and consulted

BACKGROUND

On 29 October 2018, the Council accepted Accelerated LEP Review Grant Funding and subsequently agreed with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment to prepare specific projects to bring the North Sydney LEP & other planning instruments and policies into closer alignment with the Greater Sydney Commission’s North District Plan (2018). The Civic Precinct Planning Study is one of these projects. Following a public procurement process, Council appointed a team of consultants led by Conybeare Morrison in October 2019 to undertake this work. In the meantime, Council also carried out Stage 1 of the study with preliminary consultation taking place between 11 July and 8 August 2019. The outcomes of Stage 1 were reported to Council in October 2019 and the outcomes were noted. Further, more focused consultation occurred in November 2019.

CONSULTATION REQUIREMENTS

Community engagement will be undertaken in accordance with Council’s Community Engagement Protocol.


Due to the current Covid-19 restrictions in place, it is recommended that the Draft Civic Precinct Planning Study be placed on exhibition for a period of 6 weeks with mostly an online presence.

DETAIL

1. Purpose & Background

The purpose of the Civic Precinct Planning Study is to establish the role of the Civic Precinct within the wider LGA context and develop a vision for it.

The aim of the study is to understand the impacts resulting from the arrival of new public transport infrastructure to the area, as well as from the evolving changes occurring in the surrounding areas and to formalise an urban design framework for the future of the precinct.

This vision and framework will then help determine any necessary changes to the area’s built form and public domain and establish criteria for any new developments that may be identified as being appropriate in the precinct.

The study will also ensure that the Civic Precinct is aligned with the objectives and targets of the Greater Sydney Commission’s North District Plan (2018) and Council’s Local Strategic Planning Statement (2020).

1.1 The Study Area

The study area is directly north of North Sydney CBD. It is bounded by McLaren Street, Pacific Highway, Falcon Street and the Warringah Freeway with an additional area east bounded by Walker Street and Berry Street at the southeast corner.

The Study responds to the construction of the Victoria Cross Metro Station northern portal, located at the intersection of McLaren and Miller Streets which will provide greater access to public transport to the area. This metro portal has generated development interest (with four planning proposals already lodged within the study area) and prompted a closer look at any further implications of the new public transport infrastructure.

Additionally, there have been major changes to areas surrounding the Civic Precinct including the St Leonards / Crows Nest Planned Precinct and the Ward Street Masterplan proposing changes to the urban structure around the study area.

The study is part of a Council effort to align the statutory framework with the objectives and directions identified in the Greater Sydney Commission’s Regional Plan and North District Plan as required by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE). The work has funded by a grant from the NSW Government.

1.2 Drivers of the Study

Strategic Context


North Sydney is part of the wider Harbour CBD within the Sydney metropolitan region. As the main urban node in Sydney, the Harbour CBD is expected to grow and contribute to the city’s economic, civic and social life.

The Metropolitan Plan by the Greater Sydney Commission, and in particular the North District Plan, have set employment and residential targets for North Sydney. These targets include the increase of 21,000 jobs in the CBD and 16,000 jobs in St. Leonards over the next 16 years. Residential targets estimate the need for 3,000 additional dwellings by 2021 (from 2016) and approximately another 11,000 additional dwellings by 2036. These targets have recently been revised by the DPIE, with a current estimate of 10,250 new dwellings by 2036.

Major transformations are occurring in North Sydney CBD and St. Leonards including the introduction of the Sydney Metro. Due to these changes, it is necessary to look at the role, character and future vision of surrounding areas, including the Civic Precinct.

Alignment of Council’s Planning Controls with the North District PlanOn October 2018, North Sydney Council accepted Accelerated LEP Review Grant Funding and subsequently agreed with the DPIE to prepare specific projects to bring North Sydney’s planning instruments and policies into closer alignment with the Greater Sydney Commission’s North District Plan. The Civic Precinct Planning Study is one of these projects.

The Proposed Metro Northern Entry PortalThe new Northern Metro entry will be a ‘lift only’ portal that provides greater accessibility to the north of the CBD Precinct. Sydney Metro estimate the new northern portal will increase patronage by approximately 5%.

Both the North Sydney Transport Strategy and Sydney Metro prioritise walking and cycling above private vehicle traffic, and the Civic Precinct Planning Study will need to consider this in the study. One of the stated objectives of Sydney Metro is to ‘serve and stimulate urban development’ and this study seeks to provide a framework to guide, control and facilitate any development stimulated by the proposed northern Metro station portal.

Development InterestCouncil has received Planning Proposals for several sites within the study area, and the significant individual increase in density and height has the potential to undermine the character of the area in the absence of a more holistic vision for the precinct. The Civic Precinct Planning Study is to provide that holistic vision and guide any development.

2. Objectives

The objectives of the planning study are:

To understand the community and stakeholders’ visions and needs for future planning of the study area;

To develop a considered urban planning vision and strategy for the Civic Precinct, establishing a series of urban planning principles for the study area;

Achieve the objectives and actions identified in the GSC North District Plan; Identify, and retain the urban values of the precinct including its heritage and fine-grained

structure and ‘leafy’ character;


Identify possible improvements in the public domain, including pedestrian linkages, wayfinding, new public open space and improved amenity - consistent with the objectives and directions identified in the draft North Sydney CBD Public Domain Strategy (2020);

Identify the existing and future ‘high significance civic places’ within the precinct and define their desired character;

Identify the appropriate density across the study area considering the existing opportunities and constraints, its location within the North Sydney LGA, and current and future access to transport and public infrastructure;

Explore appropriate opportunities to review building height and density within the precinct in light of the introduction of improved access to public transport; and

Explore opportunities to deliver public benefit within, or on the periphery of, the study area as a result of redevelopment proposals.

3. Process & Methodology

Stage 1Council conducted a Stage 1 preliminary community consultation in mid-2019 to understand community’s aspirations for the Civic Precinct area. An internal analysis of public facilities was also conducted. This stage yielded a set of community priorities that have informed the design brief for stage 2.

A report compiling community input and reflecting the demographics and character of the area was reported to Council in October 2019.

Stage 2In October 2019, Council appointed Conybeare Morrison (CM+) and a team of sub-consultants to carry out stage 2.

Based on the brief, extensive analysis of the area and further public consultation workshops, the team developed a vision for the Civic Precinct together with a series of urban design principles and objectives. Their work resulted in a series of proposed actions and strategies to be implemented across the precinct in order to achieve the vision for the area, together with proposed changes to the planning controls in selected locations. This work underpins the final planning study subject of this report (Attachment 1)

The full documentation developed by the consultants’ team is at Attachment 2 to this report. These consultant reports underpin the ideas put forward in this study.

3.2 Project Control Group

At the start of the project, Council established a Project Control Group (PCG) to provide direction and feedback to the consultant team. The PCG comprised staff from each Division of Council. The ideas of the study were presented to Council’s PCG at several points during the process as well as to the North Sydney Design Excellence Panel.

3.3 Project Methodology

The methodology for Stage 2 of the study is outlined below. Part 1. Analysis and Opportunities


Extensive urban design analysis of the current environment and planning framework; Identifying opportunities and constrains of the study area; Testing of the existing planning controls; Identifying public domain and public benefits opportunities; and Establishing preliminary urban design principles.

Part 2. Further Community ConsultationFurther consultation with the community, including representatives from local schools, was undertaken via two workshops. At the workshops, the opportunities and principles were discussed with the participants through a series of activities.

Part 3. Urban vision and suggested actionsIncorporating the feedback of the workshops and based on the findings or Part 1, the design team subsequently undertook:

Alternative scenarios for the precinct; Internal design workshop with Council; Scenario refinement and vision for the precinct; Strategies and actions; and Documentation of the study.

The consultant team then prepared a suite of technical studies for the precinct. These reports, which included traffic, heritage and sustainability advice, landscape, public domain, and urban design, underpin the draft Planning Study prepared by Council.

4. Strategic Context

The attached Study identifies its consistency and relationship to the Greater Sydney Commission's Regional Plan (A Metropolis of Three Cities - 2018) and North District Plan (2018). The Study is specifically identified in Council’s strategic response to these documents, being the North Sydney Local Strategic Planning Statement and is consistent and supportive of the North Sydney Community Strategic Plan. These latter documents supporting a strong place based, strategic led planning basis for managing change.

5. Proposed Planning Strategy Overview

This Planning Study sets up the vision and the framework to deliver a modern civic campus for North Sydney that complements and balances the high density commercial cores in the vicinity (North Sydney CBD and St. Leonards) and provides the community with a generous, active and attractive social open space. The Civic Precinct holds a dual role for the North Sydney LGA, as both a civic centre and as a social and recreational node. The current residential and civic buildings, as well as existing open space, are characteristic of the area. The area is the location of the Council Chambers as well as the setting for community markets, exercise classes and social gatherings.


5.1 Vision

Through small improvements and selected interventions, the Civic Precinct will become a modern, connected, and attractive Civic & Education Campus with a strong network of pedestrian links and open spaces, a low-scale village feel, and a leafy appearance.

The area will continue to be characterised by older educational institutions, heritage-listed Victorian terraced houses, the greenery of St Leonards Park and a cluster of civic buildings and public open space at the precinct’s centre.

The village feel of the Civic Precinct will be preserved and enhanced to strengthen its anchor role within North Sydney’s green-civic corridor that connects all the parks and reserves from Port Jackson to Middle Harbour and provides a lower density green break between the two high-density areas of North Sydney CBD and St Leonards.

This distinct Civic and Educational campus will be complemented by vibrant mixed-used zones at the NW and SE of the precinct that will act as soft transition zones towards the CBD and Crows Nest (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Diagrammatic skyline along the Pacific Highway

5.2 Principles

Based on community consultation, analysis of the planning study area, and the vision developed for the Civic Precinct, a series of principles have been developed to guide the future planning of the precinct.

These principles have informed and guided the proposed structure for the precinct as well as the implementation strategies and proposed actions:

Preserve, enhance, and strengthen the rich heritage of the precinct; Maintain the small-scale character and village feel of the precinct’s core; Define the edges of Crows Nest Village and North Sydney CBD; Manage growth and development which is of appropriate scale and character; Encourage the implementation of an education campus; Increase the public amenity within the precinct; Integrate open spaces into the green-civic spine network; Encourage active transport and improved connectivity across the precinct; Promote a varied network of small business and commerce; Promote housing diversity and affordability; and Advocate design excellence and sustainability in new buildings and the public domain.


5.3 Proposed Design Concept

The Civic Precinct is the main social and civic gathering place for the community of North Sydney. The area will keep evolving as a civic and educational campus at its core with two mixed-use transition zones towards the CBD and Crows Nest.

This Civic and Educational campus will continue to be defined by low-scale, tree-lined streets, and by a rich network of connected public open spaces with new pedestrian and cycling routes through the precinct that will link to the new metro station.

At the fringes of the study, mixed-used areas will form soft transition zones towards the CBD and Crows Nest along Walker and McLaren Street and along Pacific Highway.

6. Actions under the Draft Planning Study

The planning study includes the following actions / interventions.


Action 1: Create more jobs and housing opportunities near the Metro Consolidate the northern end of the CBD with a Mixed-Use zone that makes the most of

the Metro Northern Portal, transitions towards the heritage conservation area and connects to St. Leonards Park.

Provide a height transition between the commercial core and the lower density conservation area.

Increase the permeability, connectivity and public amenity of the area. In particular, complete and strengthen the N-S link from North Sydney train station to St Leonards Park through Elliott Street.

Preserve the Ridge Street Heritage Conservation Area.

Action 2: Develop the Pacific Highway frontage into a medium-scale environment with increased pedestrian amenity Create a low-scale streetscape area between North Sydney CBD and St. Leonards that

provides for a more human centric and pedestrian friendly environment. Bookend either side of the Civic Precinct along the Pacific Highway through increased

building heights to allow for a transition into the higher-density areas on either side. Widen the footpath by 1.5 metres to improve pedestrian amenity planting and activation. Provide active frontages to Pacific Highway where possible. Continue the implementation of cycleways along the Pacific Highway. Explore ways to improve the Five Ways intersection by diverting traffic if possible.

Action 3: Support small to medium sized business growth through targeted increases to the non-residential FSRs Increase the non-residential FSR in the area to provide for smaller commercial tenancy

spaces within mixed use buildings. Encourage mixed-use buildings with retail and commercial tenancies to increase foot traffic

and improve street activation along the main thoroughfares and nodes. Build on the existing presence of educational and medical facilities in the area as well as

the adjacent CBD and encourage companies and initiatives that support these sectors.

Action 4: Preserve heritage, add valueThe Civic Precinct has 93 Local and State Heritage Listed Items and four Heritage Conservation Areas (HCA). Of these items, ninety-one are locally significant, and two are State significant.

It is important to protect and respect these heritage buildings and conservation areas for future generations as they define the local identity and unique character of the area. At the same time we must ensure that the area is well maintained, remains relevant, activated and used, so it is equally important to allow for careful and considered additions that add value to the area and provide updated spaces for modern needs.

Action 5: Undertake further review of Falcon Street There is some degree of uncertainty around the Falcon Street corridor due to the different infrastructure projects currently ongoing, in particular the DPIE’s Planned Precinct, Crows Nest Metro Station and the Western Harbour Tunnel Motorway project. There are varying levels of uncertainty surrounding these projects.


It is recommended that once the outcomes of these projects are known and better understood, a detailed Urban Design Study of Falcon Street is undertaken, focusing mostly on the area between Five Ways and West Street.

The corridor is a major traffic thoroughfare connecting the Military Road Corridor with Pacific Highway, and at the same time, it is the transition between the Civic Precinct and Crows Nest Village. Being able to combine both roles will be key in order to achieve a successful outcome.

Action 6: Undertake further review of Civic CoreThe Civic Core is bounded by McLaren, Ridge, Miller and West Streets and includes a high amount of publicly owned assets. Greater connectivity and legibility between the different buildings and a more attractive and pleasant civic environment is desirable.

It is desirable to develop a detailed masterplan for the block.

Action 7: Provide urban design guidelines for education facilitiesThere is a strong presence of educational facilities within the precinct. Most of them present a very insular layout with poor interfaces with the surroundings.

A series of guidelines promoting more integration and openness with the local context and the community have been developed to guide any future development of the educational institutions. These guidelines include the following recommendations as:

In principle height should be located at the core of the site with a lower scale perimeter. Higher building should not have any presence or impact onto the public domain. Ensure that school amenity (overshadowing / privacy) is not affected by any new

development. Ensure future development does not impact the visual amenity of the surrounding area. Integrate educational facilities into the neighbourhood by improving their interfaces with

adjoining streets and the public domain. Improve the area’s permeability by encouraging pedestrian through site links during day

light hours and after-hours public access to schools’ facilities, subject to security considerations.

Action 8: Improve public open spaceThe study has identified 4 main opportunities for public domain improvement.

1. Implementation of the St Leonards Park Landscape Masterplan.2. Implementation of the Civic Spine / Miller Walk up to Falcon Street.3. Provide additional open spaces.4. Improve walking, cycling and public transport safety and amenity on major urban corridors.

Action 9: Identify access and active transport network improvements With the arrival of the metro to the corner of Miller and McLaren streets there is an opportunity to improve the access to the precinct and its connection to the wider metropolitan context. In particular it is critical to connect cycle and walking routes to the new metro station.

The following key improvements have been identified that would maximise the impact and reach of the metro station.


A connection between the metro portal and Ridge Street through Elliot Street and 52 McLaren Street.

Better East-West routes through Council’s civic block would make Pacific Highway and Mater Hospital more accessible from the metro.

Improved E-W permeability between Pacific Highway and the heritage conservation areas to the east. In particular upgrade Hazelbank Place and a new connection from Eden Lane to West Street.

Completion of Bernard Lane up to Myrtle Street as a pedestrian only space. A connection between Myrtle and Emmett Streets through the back of North Sydney Girls

High School. Completion of the Ridge Street cycleway and pedestrian priority footpath as essential parts

of the wider active transport regional network. Implementation of the West Street unidirectional cycleways.

7. Potential Public Benefits

The study has identified a series of potential public benefits that address the community’s aspirations as well as existing needs for the area. Some of these benefits could be delivered via planning agreements with private landowners to redevelop some opportunity sites. Others might be delivered through the Council’s applicable Contributions Plan.

It is worth noting that there are not many sites that are expected to undergo significant changes. This limits the capacity to deliver on the desired public benefits. Notwithstanding, public benefits that may be negotiated as part of any planning proposal to amend the North Sydney LEP 2013 are a new community centre, public domain upgrades, affordable housing and public art and potentially, a child care centre.

8. Risks

8.1 Western Harbour Tunnel Project

The design and alignment of the Western Harbour Tunnel (WHT), as outlined in the EIS currently on public exhibition, poses a significant risk to the realisation of some of the key actions put forward by the Civic Precinct Planning Study.

Council’s North Sydney Transport Strategy and the subsequent CBD Transport Masterplan identified and modelled various interventions to the overall traffic network to respond to the significant increases in pedestrian movements and activity as a result of Metro and maximise its benefits to the city.

This was designed to essentially redirect “through traffic” from Pacific Highway to Falcon Street and the Warringah Freeway, thus improving pedestrian amenity across the precinct, specifically along Pacific Highway south of the five ways intersection and along Miller Street. This would enable more fundamental placemaking and public domain improvements to be explored.

The WHT project would see a significant increase in through traffic via Miller Street and potentially Pacific Highway. This would make the proposed pedestrian and cycling improvements across the precinct and their connections to the new metro portal unviable.


Further, the Draft North Sydney CBD Public Domain Strategy seeks to capitalise on reducing all the streets within the precinct to local traffic only having redirected “through traffic” from Pacific Highway to Falcon Street and on to the Warringah Freeway.

Council’s broad placemaking and city building objectives were an important input into the previous ongoing collaboration with the NSW Government in its preparation of the North Sydney Integrated Transport Plan. Another element was the WHT and its role and impacts upon Council’s broad objectives and aspirations. Unfortunately, this process may have stalled and the future of its good work is now very much uncertain.

In the context of these risks, and the draft nature of the WHT project, the Draft Civic Precinct Planning Study should continue to be pursued as an aspirational strategy with acknowledgement that the NSW Government’s approval and ultimate pursuit of the WHT project, will mean the Planning Study may need to be revisited.

8.2 Planning Proposals and State Government Overwrite

The Planning Study presents a consultative, evidence based strategic assessment of the needs and the role of the area as a Civic Precinct and a lower density environment to complement the nearby North Sydney CBD and St. Leonards Hub. Notwithstanding this, there is a tendency to assign strategic merit for more density to any site within 400 metres of a metro station by the DPIE and the various planning panels.

This tendency is based on the general principles that underpin the Greater Sydney regional plan. Among them, the idea of a 30-minute city and a well-connected city.

However, even though these principles are valuable and serve as strategic underpinnings of our planning work, we have to ensure that holistic local strategic planning is also considered when looking at any given site. In some instances, being close to a metro or a train station is not enough strategic merit to consider changing the controls or the character of the area.

Council as the depositary of local knowledge and as the planning authority for the area, must develop a holistic strategic framework for the area in alignment with the general objectives and principles of the regional and district plan and then must ensure that this local strategic framework is upheld by the planning panels and the DPIE.

Recent planning proposals in the area have been recognised as having strategic merit by the planning panels disregarding local strategic context. This study is a step to providing a level of certainty to both the general community as well as the various levels of decisionmakers to ensure that individual proposals and initiatives are considered with the benefit and in the context of a holistic and consultative framework.

9. Next Steps

Pending Council’s endorsement, the draft Study will be publicly exhibited to seek community and stakeholder input and feedback. Once feedback is received, the study will be amended as necessary and reported back to Council for adoption.


The final adopted planning study will then guide the planning for the area and provide council with criteria to manage any future proposals for the precinct as well as serve as a tool for advocacy with state and federal agencies and inform local investment decisions.

10. Conclusion

The draft Civic Precinct Planning Study puts forward a vision for North Sydney’s Civic and Social core, identifies a series of public domain, transport and built form opportunities arising from the metro arrival, and provides a series of actions and strategies to deliver the vision.

The study envisions the area becoming a stronger and more attractive civic and educational campus with a low-scale and leafy character and feel.

The Civic Precinct will act as the green buffer between North Sydney CBD and St. Leonards, and as the central civic hub that ties together the surrounding commercial and mixed-use nodes.

The study provides a holistic planning framework for the area in alignment with other planning studies for adjacent areas developed by Council and also in alignment with the Greater Sydney Commission’s North District Plan.

It is worth noting that the WHT project remains a significant threat to the realisation of some of the actions put forward by the planning study.

Documents

8.4. Draft Civic Precinct Planning Study AUTHOR: Pedro ...€¦ · 3731st Council Meeting - 18 May 2020 Agenda Page 85 of 608 8.4. Draft Civic Precinct Planning Study AUTHOR: Pedro