Height limits over all residentially zoned land

• 2 storey maximum across 78% of the municipality, the Neighbourhood Residential Zone (formerly Minimal Change Areas)
• 3 storey maximum in Neighbourhood Centres and along tram routes
• 4 storey maximum in the 2.2% of Glen Eira residential zones comprising the Urban Villages around the railway stations of Elsternwick, Carnegie and Bentleigh.

The height limits are binding on all parties, including VCAT.

Council has achieved this by specifying mandatory maximum height controls in Schedules to the new residential zones.

The new maximum height limits apply to applications lodged after the changes are Gazetted (now expected to be 23 August). Applications lodged before Gazettal will be assessed against the rules in force at the time of lodgement.

These changes only affect land zoned residential. The centres of most shopping strips and land on some main roads are in State Government Commercial Zones where no height limits apply and where significant development, including residential development, can be expected.

In the Neighbourhood Residential Zone, in addition to the new maximum 2 storey height limit, neighbourhood character will be further protected by a limit of not more than two dwellings per lot, site coverage limited to 50%, porous area to be at least 25%, private open space to be at least 60 square metres and a rear set back of at least 4 metres. This will allow more room for canopy trees and less run off into storm water.

Glen Eira is the first Council in Victoria to translate into the new residential zones and the only Council with mandatory maximum height limits over all residentially-zoned land.

For more information http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/Council/Media_and_news/News/Height_limits_over_all_residentially_zoned_land