A MONASH councillor last week voted in favour of an apartment complex that he said he would not want to live next to, in a move that has angered residents next to the development.
At a meeting last Tuesday, Monash Council unanimously agreed to grant a permit for an 81-dwelling apartment complex in Clayton.
The complex would border Dixon and Murray streets, both of which are narrow streets with a constant stream of cars parked on either side by visitors to nearby medical clinics, private hospitals, Monash Medical Centre, churches and an adult education centre.
While all councillors voted in favour of the permit, Cr Stephen Dimopoulos made comments at the meeting that have angered residents.
"I wouldn't want to be next to [the development] but at least surrounding properties are mostly not residential," Cr Dimopoulos said.
Resident Michelle Ross said it was unfair for Cr Dimopoulos to vote in favour of something he wouldn't want to live next to.
But Cr Dimopoulos said, while he stood by his comments, he was bound by planning laws and voted in favour of the development because there were no elements of it that went against local laws.
Ms Ross said cars from the 146-bedroom, 81-dwelling apartment would add to an already "chaotic, narrow road" that residents considered an "accident waiting to happen".
"The council just wants more revenue from parking fines. You see officers patrolling the streets all day."
Reverend Rob Culhane, assistant minister of the All Saints Anglican Church on Dixon Street, is leading a petition against the development.
Until two years ago, Mr Culhane was a registered architect with domestic and commercial experience.
He said the existing stormwater drains in Clayton Road were unable to cope with existing demands.
With the new development, it was likely local flooding would occur frequently despite a requirement for the developer to install a water retention system, he said.
"The privacy and amenity of people living next door to it will also be compromised because of the way the sound will travel from the proposed dwellings into their backyard."
Mr Culhane said he also had concerns about increased traffic and a lack of open spaces in both the development and surrounding areas.
Cr Dimopoulos said he agreed residents shouldn't have to live next to a complex of the size proposed.
However, he said it would have been pointless to vote against the development because it complied with all relevant building laws and the developers could simply have appealed against the decision at the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal.
"If you can find an element of the planning law that we can use to knock it off, please let me know."
Monash Mayor Charlotte Baines said, subject to conditions, the development complied with relevant guidelines and was considered appropriate to the site in the context of its surrounds.
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