An assessment of a 37-lot subdivision in Laggan was deferred by the Upper Lachlan Shire Council at the ordinary council meeting held on Thursday.
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The proposed subdivision is a major development for the rural village of Laggan and has divided residents. On Thursday, a silent protest was held outside the council chambers at the lack of community consultation.
Then faced with community pressure, the council deferred the decision to endorse or reject the application for a Gateway Determination.
Mayor John Stafford said, the Gateway Determination process mandated for community consultation.
"A number of the community are concerned the horse would have bolted by the time we get to community consultation, that is not the case," he said.
Some councillors were concerned they would lose control of the process.
If the council has failed to indicate support during the required time of 90 days or failed to submit a planning proposal for a Gateway determination the applicant may proceed directly to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE).
The proposed subdivision would reduce lot sizes and rezone rural holdings to the north of the village. The applicant wants to rezone land and reduce the minimum lot size from 80 hectares to 4000 square metres, and to rezone other land and reduce the minimum lot size from 80 hectares to 1 hectare, 2, and 5 hectares lots.
The land to the north of Laggan Lane would be accessed via the Peelwood and Redground Heights roads.
It would amend the council's Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2010, however, it correlates with the draft local strategic planning statement (LSPS) 2040. The final version of the LSPS was approved by the council, and community consultation took place earlier this year.
The application will be considered at the next council meeting in September after community consultation and a councillor briefing.
Director of Planning Tina Dodson said the council could go over 90 days before a decision is lodged. The submission of a report after community consultation could further push back the timeline.
Councillor Ron Cummins, who resigned at the meeting, warned the council to be cautious. The people of Laggan have their timelines out of date. This is an application to the Gateway not a development application, he said.
The residents of Laggan will hold a meeting at the Laggan Memorial Hall on Tuesday, August 25 at 6pm.