A FOUR-storey housing proposal at The Peak site in Wheelers Hill is the best possible outcome for residents who objected to a plan for a much taller building, says an action group.
The development, on the corner of Jells and Ferntree Gully roads, was approved by Monash Council last week.
It will include 131 dwellings within four separate buildings up to four storeys in height.
After strong public objection, the council had rejected a previous application for the development of a nine-storey, 111-apartment building on the site in 2004.
Wheelers Hill Action Group spokesman David Dickens said although the group still had concerns about the development, it had achieved "the best result for the situation".
"It's going to be high density accommodation and we have concerns with impacts on traffic and transport.
"We do believe this will still be an over-development of the site, but it's nothing like the groundswell of discontent that was apparent with the original nine-storey development.
"That would have been a monster."
Peter Dunphy, body corporate president of an adjoining block of town houses in The Deviation, said there was a lack of consultation on the latest proposal. "There are at least 15 people who will be directly affected by the development. For the adjoining residents not to be consulted is not good enough."
Mayor Charlotte Baines said the approved development was a "significant improvement" on past proposals for the site and would bring diversity to housing at Wheelers Hill.
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