Although, in principal, a business is allowed to be located in an activity centre, shopping strip, industrial area, office building and mixed-use area, when a lease for is signed and time is ticking to prepare for opening day, one may quickly discover that you don’t know what you don’t know.
In most instances even though a lease has been signed, you will probably need a planning permit. Business Victoria provides direction which includes choosing a location and considering land use zoning and the planning process. The time frame for preparing and submitting a planning application and waiting for approval could have an impact on the planned opening date, particularly if you are not familiar with the process.
CS Town Planning has a variety of clients who are small business owners ranging from those who are experienced and build in plenty of lead time to obtain a permit, to those who are unaware, did not realise they needed a planning permit and are anxious to have everything in place for opening day. CS Town Planning works on behalf of our clients to navigate the planning process and secure planning applications.
Common elements that require a planning permit include parking requirements (which could vary by type of business), signage and renovating a shopfront. Expansion of a building/floor area and locating a business in a specific land use zone may also require a permit.
There may be other factors that need to be addressed in a planning applications such as land use overlays that cover a geographical area and are not directly related to the specific type of business. A common overlay is a Heritage Overlay, any buildings within these areas need to address specific design requirements that reflect and preserve the historical significance of an area. A requirement for all applications submitted is the inclusion of a site plan and building elevations. These plans will provide a conceptual representation to support the elements included in the planning application. When submitting a planning application on behalf of a small business owner, CS Town Planning ensures that a comprehensive package is submitted. A Council has a timeframe of 60 days to approve an application, which can be extended if information is missing, or inadequate information is provided.