PORT Macquarie-Hastings Council has called an extraordinary meeting for Wednesday (September 30) to consider the adoption of the Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) in order to meet government directives and deadlines.
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Residents concerned about "out-of-character" developments in residential areas and what the long-term future of development and growth looks like for the region, had the chance to shape the direction of future planning by providing feedback.
Council drafted the LSPS to guide local value planning for the next two decades.
The LSPS along with the Community Strategic Plan - Towards 2030, sets the direction for the community's environmental, social and economic needs into the future.
It must set out the 20-year vision for land use in the local area; the shared community values that are to be maintained and enhanced; how development and change will be managed in the future and the special values and characteristics which contribute to local identity.
Comments on 'shaping our future 2040' closed on September 22.
Council said while a number of submissions were received during the public exhibition period, it is proposed the meeting considers the adoption of the draft LSPS that was placed on public exhibition, without public feedback included, in order to meet NSW government directives and deadline of September 30.
A further report on the LSPS is also then proposed in November 2020, following a full review, and possible revision of the adopted LSPS to include community feedback.
The recommendation to council suggests the majority of submissions are "strongly supportive of the strategic intent" of the LSPS and the content, including the vision, strategic planning principles, themes and planning priorities.
Only two submissions received during the exhibition period raised an issue with the strategic direction of the LSPS, the report says.
There are a number of Port Macquarie residents who have raised their concerns over out-of-character residential developments in recent years.
In February 2020, Treeview Way resident Bob Withers told the Port Macquarie News he was shocked by a unit development along his back boundary fenceline.
Mr Withers said he supports a lower density option for residential developments.
Cr Lisa Intemann is active in land use planning issues and encouraged residents to have their say on important issues like housing density by providing feedback on the LSPS document.
She said the region is classed as a growth area by the NSW government, and the emphasis is on how much Port Macquarie-Hastings can grow in the next 20 years or so.
The meeting will be streamed live from 1pm on council's YouTube channel youtube.com/portmacquariehastingscouncil.
The agenda for the meeting is available at pmhc.nsw.gov.au/councilmeetings.
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