Assess a change of use application in a heritage overlay

You are the Planning Officer in Planning and Building Services.

Simulated workplaceIntermediate missionCAQA Shire of Brightwater

What is going on

Brightwater Bakery Pty Ltd has applied to change the use of its Main Street shop to a cafe with 30 seats, outdoor seating on the footpath and a new illuminated sign. The site is in the Commercial 1 Zone and the Heritage Overlay covers the whole Main Street precinct. Notice has been given and the adjoining residential neighbour has objected about evening noise from the outdoor seating. The statutory 60 day clock started on 2 September. Tom Kaczmarek wants a delegate assessment report with draft conditions, and the heritage adviser has raised concerns about the illuminated sign on a 1920s shopfront.

Tom Kaczmarek, Manager Planning and Building
Subject: PA-2026-127 cafe change of use

The Brightwater Bakery application to convert to a cafe with outdoor seating and new signage is out for notice and we have one objection about noise from the neighbour. The site is in the Heritage Overlay so the signage needs a close look. Please complete the assessment against the scheme using the Planning Permit Application Assessment Procedure, update the Planning Application Register, and prepare a delegate report with draft conditions. Talk to the heritage adviser about the sign.

Your brief

Complete the assessment of application PA-2026-127 against the planning scheme and the objection, consult the heritage adviser, update the Planning Application Register, and prepare a delegate report recommending a decision with conditions that address noise, hours and signage.

Work through it

You do not need to do it all. Doing a few of these will show you what the work is like. Your ticks and notes stay on this device.

Read the Planning Permit Application Assessment Procedure and identify the zone, overlay and particular provisions that apply to the Main Street site.
Open PA-2026-127 in the Planning Application Register and confirm the lodgement date, the notice period and the number of objections.
Review the objection and summarise the planning issues it raises; separate planning matters from matters the scheme does not control.
Consult the heritage adviser about the illuminated sign and record the advice and any alternative sign design that would be acceptable.
Assess the proposal against the purpose and decision guidelines of the zone and the Heritage Overlay and record your findings in the assessment report.
Draft permit conditions covering hours of outdoor seating, noise management, waste, footpath trading and the sign design.
Update the register record to Under assessment with the referral outcomes and the target decision date, and log a note in the Customer Request System for the applicant's enquiry.
Prepare the delegate report with a clear recommendation for Tom Kaczmarek.

My notes: what did I enjoy, and what surprised me?

What someone in this role would produce

Completed assessment report
Draft permit conditions
Updated Planning Application Register record
Delegate report with recommendation

Printing this is a record of what you explored. It is not a certificate or a qualification.