West melbourne structure plan findings Report

P9591.rtf

WEST MELBOURNE STRUCTURE PLAN

Findings Report

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE TWO PARTS OF THE WEST MELBOURNE STRUCTURE PLAN

1. THE PURPOSE OF THE STRUCTURE PLAN

2. WEST MELBOUNRE STRUCTURE PLAN IN CONTEXT

3. INFLUENCES

4. VISION

5. THEMES AND OBJECTIVES

6. STRATEGIES

7. LAND USE

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Land Use Policies

7.2.1 CBD Fringe and St James Old Cathedral Area

7.2.2 West Melbourne Central Mixed Use Areas

7.2.3 North Melbourne Mixed Use Area

7.2.4 North Melbourne Railway Station Node

7.2.5 Laurens Street Industrial Area

7.3 Implementation

7.3.1 Zoning

7.3.2 Business Development Strategy

8. BUILT FORM

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Built Form Policies

8.2.1 CBD Fringe and St James Old Cathedral Areas

8.2.2 West Melbourne Mixed Use Area

8.2.3 North Melbourne Mixed Use Area

8.2.4 North Melbourne Station Node

8.2.5 Laurens Street Industrial -Area F

8.3 Implementation

8.3.1 Design and Development Overlays

9. OPEN SPACE AND CIVIC IMPROVEMENTS

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Open Space and Civic Improvements

9.2.1 Provision of Additional Open Space

9.2.2 Options for a New Local Activity Centre - North Melbourne Station Node

9.2.3 Greening of Main Streets

9.2.4 Greening of Local Streets

9.2.5 North Melbourne Laneways

9.3 Implementation

10. MOVEMENT

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Movement Policies

10.2.1 Spencer Street and King Street

10.2.2 Adderley Street

10.2.3 Access to Laurens Street Industrial Area

10.2.4 Public Transport Improvements

10.2.5 Hawke Street

10.2.6 Cyclist and Pedestrian Access

10.2.7 Traffic Calming in Local Streets

10.3 West Melbourne Parking Survey

10.4 Implementation

11. COMMUNITY

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Community Services and Facilities Policies

11.3 Implementation

12. MATTERS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION

12.1 Investigation Topic 1 - North Melbourne Railway Corridor Redevelopment and Wurundjeri Way Extension

12.2 Investigation Topic 2 - Dudley Street Open Space

13. IMPLEMENTATION

13.1 Planning Scheme Amendments

13.2 Development Contributions

13.3 Implementation Schedule

Part 1: Findings Report

THE TWO PARTS OF THE WEST MELBOURNE STRUCTURE PLAN

Part 1 of the West Melbourne Structure Plan is the Findings Report. It describes the vision for West Melbourne and each of the elements of the structure plan. It is the only part of the report that needs to be referred to find out what the study is recommending.
Parts 2 of the West Melbourne Structure Plan comprises the Context and Background Report. Part 2 of the report provides the context in which the structure plan has been prepared. It provides all relevant background information that has been assembled throughout the study.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

THE CITY OF MELBOURNE ACKNOWLEDGES THE CONTRIBUTION OF HANSEN PARTNERSHIP PTY LTD, CHARTER KECK CRAMER, PARSONS BRINCKERHOFF AND THE URBAN FUTURES FOUNDATION LTD IN PREPARING MATERIAL WHICH NOW FORMS PART OF THIS STRUCTURE PLAN.

1. THE PURPOSE OF THE STRUCTURE PLAN

A number of existing planning documents establish the general strategic directions in which the future planning and development of the West Melbourne Area should occur.

This structure plan provides direction in relation to matters such as land use, built form, movement, civic improvements and community facilities.

This plan has been prepared within the overall context provided by existing planning strategies. In addition, the Plan makes comment on strategic issues where:

* a strategic direction has been unresolved, such as building heights between La Trobe and Dudley Streets

* new ideas emerge as part of the preparation of the structure plan, and which warrant further consideration, such as development over the North Melbourne Rail Corridor.

Figure 1: Mixed Use Zones where the Structure Plan applies

2. WEST MELBOURNE STRUCTURE PLAN IN CONTEXT

This section presents a summary of the urban context of the study area. A more detailed description of the existing characteristics of the area and the matters that influence its future planning and development are presented in Part 2 of this report.

The West Melbourne Structure Plan study area covers parts of the North and West Melbourne Mixed Use Zone bounded by La Trobe Street to the south, the rail lines and Laurens Street to the west, Arden Street to the north and Curzon/King Streets to the east. (Refer to Figure 1.)
The plan also addresses the relationship of the Mixed Use Zone with surrounding areas and makes recommendations which extend beyond the Mixed Use Zone.
Amendment C60 to the Melbourne Planning Scheme, which includes Council's Municipal Strategic Statement describes the combined North and West Melbourne area as follows:
"North and West Melbourne is one of the City's most dynamic and complex residential and mixed use areas. It has a strong residential base of established and new dwelling stock and also has other business, commercial and industrial uses in the area. Many areas in North and West Melbourne, including streetscapes and buildings, have been recognised for their heritage significance. Parts of North and West Melbourne are experiencing increasing pressure for residential development, especially in the city fringe areas.
The industrial area in the vicinity of Laurens and Arden Streets is strategically important to the Melbourne economy and is easily accessible to the City's rail and arterial road networks.
West Melbourne and North Melbourne are often referred to together. West Melbourne itself is a diverse, mixed use residential, commercial and industrial area on the western edge of North Melbourne. It has a strong and distinctive character that is due to the mix of uses and building styles that exist in the area, its street pattern and topography, and its relationship to its surrounds.
The radial street pattern of Rosslyn, Stanley, Roden, and Hawke Streets presents a distinctive urban character for the central parts of West Melbourne. The curved alignment of King and Spencer Streets where they pass through West Melbourne complement this radial pattern and "reveal" the CBD skyline as one gets closer to its edge. The lower built form along these roads provides a contrast to the high rise central city backdrop visible in the distance. The escarpment adjoining the rail yards provides an outlook over the emerging Docklands precinct. Natural geography, history, built form development and function highlight the differences between the two precincts. Overcoming the lack of physical linkages between the two areas would enable the West Melbourne community to participate in the emerging waterfront area and its commercial and recreational activities.
West Melbourne contains many older buildings of both industrial and a residential style, including many buildings with heritage protection. It does not have the consistently high heritage qualities of other areas around central Melbourne such as Carlton, North Melbourne and East Melbourne, which are more intact. Despite this, parts of West Melbourne continue to exhibit a character that strongly reflects its historical past. This is largely because, until recent times, the area has not experienced the high levels of development pressure normally associated with a fringe central city location.
Located on the western edge of the municipality, adjacent to the rail yards and docks, this area has traditionally comprised a mix of industrial and commercial premises.
With the recent central city apartment boom, the refocusing of activity to the west of Melbourne as a result of Docklands, and ongoing office and high rise residential development in the north-west precinct of the Melbourne Central Activities District (CAD), development activity is turning its attention on the West Melbourne area.
In understanding the urban context within which West Melbourne exists it is important to note that it is not a focal point in its own right. Rather it is an "intermediary" area that is influenced by activity nodes around it. The major influences on the area (Refer Figure 2) include:
* Central Melbourne - Proximity to the CAD is leading to pressure for taller apartment buildings and also for commercial/office activities in the southern part of the area to the north of La Trobe Street.
* Docklands - Is changing the western face of the city and is changing movement and accessibility patterns to the north and west of the CAD. This has led to an awakening of development interest in the West Melbourne area.
* North Melbourne - Is a traditional low rise heritage and mixed use area with a strong community focus on the historic Errol Street shopping precinct, with its landmark North Melbourne Town Hall, which is a shared focal point with West Melbourne. The heritage qualities and traditional relationship of West Melbourne with North Melbourne creates a strong community desire to retain the low scale, traditional built form character of the area, and to retain Errol Street shopping precinct as the community focal point of the wider precinct.
* Rail, docks and transport routes - Transport routes have significant impact on the amenity of the area due to large volumes of through commuter and truck traffic and they act to separate community linkage to Errol St Shopping Precinct. The rail lines present a challenge to easily accessing the Docklands precinct.
Figure 2: External Influences