Mahoney Drive at Macarthur Heights is sandwiched between Western Sydney University and the Hume Highway.
It is located around 2.3 kilometres from the Macarthur train station and Macarthur Square shopping centre and 900 metres to the Western Sydney University Campbelltown campus via the existing footpath network.
It is a relatively recently established medium density residential area sprinkled with two storey homes, but single level homes dominate the streetscape along Mahoney Drive.
Soon, a 22 room, two storey boarding house will be part of Mahoney Drive, even though current and future residents were against such plans.
The north eastern and north western property boundaries of the site (pictured above) for a boarding house adjoin a fire trail. The remaining boundary, to the south east, is next to a single storey home.
Reduced property prices, higher risk of fire, loss of privacy and more cars parked on the street were some of the concerns raised.
When the proposal was put on public exhibition 39 submissions were received, including a petition signed by 20 people. More submissions were received outside the exhibition period.
When the local planning panel met a few weeks ago to consider the application, it gave the boarding house the green light, essentially because it met all the planning requirements, especially the zoning.
The panel, which had inspected the site at 55 Mahoney Drive, noted that the subject site is zoned R3 Medium Density Residential under the provisions of the Campbelltown Local Environmental Plan 2015 – and boarding houses are permitted.
“The panel is satisfied that the land is suitable for a boarding house,’’ it said as part of the decision to give approval.
