AN extra 350 lots will be squeezed into the north Dennington housing development zone under a revised Warrnambool City Council planning scheme.
The review reclassifies most of the 110-hectare area for higher density yield to achieve 12 lots a hectare rather than the previous eight-lot ratio.
It will bring the total number of potential housing blocks to about 1250.
The review also includes proposals for traffic lights at two intersections.
Dennington north zone skirts the Merri River to the north and west, with Harrington Road to the east and Nina Street and St Johns Primary School on the south.
It was originally scheduled for rezoning from farmland in 2008, but after a planning panel heard community submissions, the council was advised to make changes and carve the school area into a separate section.
The remaining portion has been altered to higher density and will have a 300-metre buffer zone between future residential land and Fonterra dairy factory.
An earlier proposed loop road around the Merri will be constructed later by developers, rather than as part of the early infrastructure and low-lying, flood-risk land will be acquired under a developer contribution scheme. The Caramut-Coghlans roads and Raglan Parade-Lindsey Street intersections will be upgraded, with provision for traffic lights.
Raglan Parade-Caramut Road intersection will get a new turning lane and Coghlans Road between Caramut Road and Station Street upgraded.
It is expected the revised planning amendment will be put on public exhibition in November.
The 30 property owners involved in the zone will have the chance to make fresh submissions. Cr Michael Neoh said the higher yield was a sensible change and the intersection upgrades were vital for traffic management.
Meanwhile, two new residential planning schemes to produce about 600 blocks on former farmland near the Hopkins River will soon go on public exhibition.
A total of 118 hectares is in two sections, with the larger portion between Hopkins Point Road and the northern riverbank and the other extending to the east of Logans Beach.
Councillors said on Monday night the blocks would provide high-class views over the river and sea.
