The main issues addressed the entrance opposite Yass Earth Movers, management of the Yass River corridor, historic heritage on the site and block sizes.

The development slated for 2019 is to be known as ‘Yarrah’ and is proposed by the Walker family. It includes 62 new residential allotments, a child care centre, medical centre, senior living, hotel and motel accommodation and neighbourhood shops.

At Yass Valley Council’s Chambers, Yass Earth Movers manager Andrew Field said the proposed entrance near 60 Laidlaw Street, with painted traffic islands, would impact vehicles turning into the business.

He was worried about increased traffic flow from the development and the laws around vehicles crossing the islands.

“I am generally in support of this project… but I ask… that the entrance/exit is moved away from our business,” Mr Field said.

Yarrah’s lead engineer, Simon Cassidy, said the number of entrance points to choose from were limited because of the railway tracks that run along the site, but that he would be happy to work with the council to create another option.

A resident near the development, Rodney Therkelsen, said he was concerned about the wildlife corridors along the river.

Yass Landcare member Ross Webster also said he’d like to see the river protected.

“It’s an iconic piece of water,” he said.

One of the development’s selling points is its proximity to Yass River. Yarrah’s urban architect, Michael Chapman, said the intent was to enhance, not diminish, the river.

The plans include a minimum 40-metre green corridor around the river.

“Yass has a great river that it hasn’t paid much attention to and now we’ve got a development that allows people to live by and use the river,” Mr Chapman said.

Yass & District Historical Society vice president Adrian Cameron said he was worried about historical heritage near and on the site.

He said the development would encroach on views from the Cliftonwood homestead, which attracts tourists, and that there were remains of the old Watson’s Mill, brickwork kilns and a slaughterhouse on the site.

Mr Chapman said the development should enhance Cliftonwood’s views by additional trees that would be planted at Yarrah.

A resident who lives near the development, John Hoey, said there was a polluted swamp on the Yarrah site and held up photos for councillors to see.

Yass Valley Council’s development planner, Muzaffar Rubbani, said the pollution was from an old spillage from a petrol station that was on Laidlaw Street.

The council’s director of planning and environmental services, Chris Berry, said a report on the pollution would be carried out in the next stage of the application.

Local historian Susan O’Leary questioned the block sizes and whether they would fit the rural and historic nature of Yass.

“Do we want people to settle in Yass because they can afford a cheap block or is it to attract people for what’s best about Yass?” she said.

Yarrah block sizes would start at 450 metres squared and go up to 899m2. Mr Chapman said some neighbouring block sizes outside the development were as small as 180m2.

“We’ve tried to create a diversity of housing so that … people can … find a housing product they can’t currently find in Yass,” Mr Chapman said.

“[We also hope] this will create a great diversity of people of all ages.”

The council will now review the 15 submissions received during the public exhibition period and the additional information provided at the forum to create an assessment report.

Mr Berry said he expected the assessment report to be presented for a councillors’ vote at the December meeting.

All submitters will be informed of the council meeting date and time.