RESIDENTS who have fought against 'inappropriate' development have much advice to offer the new president of the state's peak planning body as part of a review into its operations.
Sandra Feleppa, who has twice fought development plans for 57 Kinnoull Grove, Glen Waverley, at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, said she would like the tribunal's involvement in planning decisions curtailed.
"I don't believe the VCAT should be involved in the planning process at all, except in cases where the local council has been negligent in the application of its planning scheme."
She said the tribunal should adjudicate only if a development fully complied with the ResCode and a local planning scheme, but that was rejected by a council.
Newly appointed VCAT president and Supreme Court judge Kevin Bell will review the tribunal's operations over the next two years.
Poath Road Traders Association president David Sloan agreed the VCAT should have less powers in planning matters.
Mr Sloan last year fought against additional dwellings being built on a shop site at 56 Poath Road, Hughesdale, arguing that the shopping strip suffered a car parking shortage.
Last December, VCAT member Ian Marsden overturned the council's rejection of the development, saying there were a number of on-street parking spaces available near the site and that the proposal met most other provisions of the planning scheme.
A council spokeswoman declined to comment.
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