HUME Council has rejected an application for a multi-storey 14-unit apartment complex in Sunbury.
Councillors voted at last Monday's meeting to support a council officers' recommendation not to grant a permit for the development at 59-61 Macedon Street.
Jacksons Creek ward councillor Jack Ogilvie didn't vote, saying he had a conflict of interest.
As reported in the Weekly, the developer, Gomez Developments, has already appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after the council took longer than 60 days to make a decision.
The proposed complex, the first of its type in Sunbury, faces Macedon Street and includes an entrance through a laneway on Vaughan Street.
Cr Ann Potter, also of Jacksons Creek ward, said the officers' report spoke for itself.
"There are 15 clauses and standards that this application doesn't meet," she said.
"It's a no-brainer. If it came to us as a planning application it would be rejected.
"It's the density, the design, neighbourhood character ... it would take me an hour to get through the report."
The council received 13 objections.
Vaughan Street resident John Callaghan was among those against the proposal who attended the council meeting.
"We are very happy the council has rejected the permit and that when the hearing goes to VCAT; the council will be in our corner," Mr Callaghan said.
"We attended the meeting as we had concerns, despite the officers' recommendations, that it may not have gone the way it did.
"Some councillors remarked that the people didn't want it and they took note of that. We are delighted by the outcome."
Mr Callaghan said the residents were disappointed Cr Ogilvie didn't vote on the issue.
Cr Ogilvie later told the Weekly he didn't vote as he didn't want to be seen as having an indirect conflict of interest, following comments he made to this paper on March 13.
He said then that he had reservations about the "bulkiness" of the building, its effect on the neighbourhood character and safety issues.
Last week, Cr Ogilvie said he stood by his original comments and he was happy with the decision made by the other councillors.
"I did make those comments and it's a crazy position that councillors elected by the community can't talk on issues until three days before [it comes to the council]," he said.
'I didn't want it to come before VCAT and [for them] to say I had a view on the complex before the council officers had made their report and it affected the decision."
Gomez Developments could not be contacted before the Weekly's deadline.