Harbord Hotel extension: Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel to determine approval

A development application for $2.8 million in works, could see the first floor and attic of the hotel converted to cater for comedy nights, trivia, live music, along with a cocktail lounge and recording studio.

The DA seeks to increase capacity by 50 patrons but said this will be offset by the provision of eight new off-street car parking space. A minibus that will operate between Manly and the hotel during peak trading periods will also be introduced.

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The DA states the majority of works are contained within the established building envelope, with the exception of alterations required to the south-eastern area of the existing roof to accommodate disabled lift access to the attic level of the development.

"It has been determined that the raise roof element in the south-eastern corner of the building will have a maximum height above ground level existing, measured at its ridgeline, of between 9.8 metres at its southern end and 10.7 metres at its northern end. This represents a non-compliance of between 2.2 metres (25 per cent) and 1.3 metres (15 per cent)," the SEE report states.

The DA attracted more than 130 submissions and while some supported the works, others objected due to the proposed bulk, loss of views, extra traffic, lack of parking and existing anti-social behaviour.

Undercliff Road resident Vivienne Kissane was among those to object.

"The hotel is situated in a residential area, at the moment we can deal with the present level of noise, but any more would be very invasive," she wrote.

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The proposed bulk of the hotel is a concern to Undercliff resident Joseph Farrugia.

"The roof line as submitted will increase and change from the existing lines. It's going to increase bulkness over all, which will project the building larger taking up views," he wrote.

Hotel owner Glenn Piper, who also recently purchased the Q Station's leasehold, said there was a lack of live music venues in the southern area of the northern beaches.

"There used to be Moonshine in The Steyne and that's no longer around so we do want to fill that gap," he said.

"The music industry is very excited that we're taking initiative in that space for the northern beaches because when a lot of touring artists come through there's nowhere for them to play on the northern beaches so they don't come, they only stay in the city."

Stage one of the hotel's renovation opened on January 3 and Mr Piper said he'd received incredible feedback from the community.

"Everyone's really impressed and satisfied with what we've done with the place," he said. "We really just stripped it back to the beautiful building that it is, added a couple of modern bars but with inspiration by its past."

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