MOUNT Hutton residents have again been left without any answers regarding a controversial development planned for their suburb.

Lake Macquarie councillors unanimously deferred a decision on SNL Building Constructions' 19-lot housing development proposal for Cowmeadow Road on Monday night for the second time in a month.

The matter will return to the council at the next standing committee meeting, on Tuesday, June 9, after staff have answered councillors' queries.

These include issues with building height compliance, overshadowing and drainage.

The concerns were raised by residents during a site inspection held earlier in the month, which was discussed at the meeting.

Councillor Langford said the council must practice due diligence.

"I understand that we've had a site inspection and I understand that we've already postponed [the matter], but I think it's important that we get everything right here," Cr Langford said.

Earlier reports

EXCESSIVE building heights is at the top of residents’ concerns over a development proposal for Mount Hutton.

Almost half of SNL Constructions proposal for 19 two and three-bedroom units on Cowmeadow Road exceeds height restrictions in Lake Macquarie City Council’s Mount Hutton Area Plan.

Under the plan, the building height limit is eight metres. Eight of the units measure between eight and 8.6metres.

The Mount Hutton Area Plan conflicts with the council’s Lake Macquarie Local Environment Plan 2014, which has a building height limit of 10metres.

This development is planned for a 7000-square-metre sloping block of land on a hill crest.

A Lake Macquarie council report states ‘‘where lot orientation or topography will result in impacts on down slope or adjoining dwellings, in this instance building height of 4.5metres (single storey) is preferred’’.

However, in the same report it said the excess height had ‘‘no off-site impact in terms of shadows cast – the site slope and orientation affords a suitable outcome’’.

‘‘If it was mostly compliant we [the community] would probably walk away from this one, but it’s not. It’s 50/50,’’ Cowmeadow Road resident Jason Brown said.

Mr Brown said he would like to see the building heights lowered to comply with the area plan and the overall number of units reduced by two to alleviate parking congestion.

The matter will go before the council on Monday night.

Councillors were expected to discuss the outcome of a site inspection held earlier in the month.

Councillor Kay Fraser said the main issues raised at the site inspection included building heights, density, traffic impacts and drainage.

‘‘It’s an awkward site with a slope that exacerbates these problems. But the thing is it’s zoned for medium-density, so it’s technically compliant.’’