The National Capital Authority has rethought its proposed plans for single-dwelling blocks in the Deakin-Forrest precinct.
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Instead, the authority has set guidelines that will come into force immediately, that it says will provide clarity for residents thinking about redevelopment in the area, while maintaining the suburb's character.
In February, the authority released a draft amendment to its National Capital Plan that would limit development in the area to just one dwelling per block, except for blocks facing onto State Circle.
The amendment was in response to a 2017 discussion paper that had angered residents who had plans to redevelop their blocks. Last month, the authority conceded the plan had polarised the local community.
Newly appointed National Capital Authority chief executive Sally Barnes said the Deakin/Forrest residential area precinct code - landscape and sustainability guidelines were developed to provided greater clarity on the National Capital Plan.
"The National Capital Plan talks about the 'garden city', and 'city beautiful' concepts but it doesn't give much advice around what we really mean by that," Ms Barnes said.
"So these guidelines actually talk about having large lush gardens that encircle residences on blocks, talks about deep plantings, talks about reducing hard scapes, reducing areas you'd use for driveways or other sorts of hard paving and maintaining that lush wonderful canopy that's there in the area.
The changes mean developments will still be restricted to two storeys but owners will have more latitude on what they can build on their blocks, pending approval.
Residents and people who submitted a submission into the amendment were sent emails about the drop of the draft amendment and new plans on Monday afternoon.
The guidelines say proposals for redevelopment of a block should be accompanied by a landscape plan prepared by a registered landscape architect. The block must have no less than 40 per cent of total site area for soft planting for trees, grass or lawn - not including synthetic turf, garden bed and shrubs.
It says "generous areas of soft planting" should surround or encircle each dwelling. Trees should contribute to energy efficiency by providing "substantial shade in summer, especially to west facing windows, and admitting winter sunlight to outdoor and indoor living areas, especially to the north".
Established trees should be retained where possible, the guidelines state, however NCA director of development assessment and heritage Ilse Wurst said the authority would consider tree removal only where an arborist report said a tree was sick, proposed a threat or restricted growth of other plants.
"There's a focus on landscape work so it's trying to really give people, developers, owners who ever wants to do work there an idea of how much we mean in terms of landscape," Ms Wurst said.
"If there are existing trees, they should be retained if possible, however we understand if trees are in poor health but we want an arborist report to confirm it."
Driveways are limited to single-vehicle width, less than 3.6 metres, and have a "uniform surface of subdued charcoal or earth tones". It says gravel, brick, clay or concrete paver or bitumen were preferred surface finishes.
The guidelines will be for the 74 blocks bounded by Adelaide Avenue, National Circuit, Hobart Avenue and Somers Crescent.
"We've committed to review after 12 months just to see whether the developments that are coming through reflect the guidelines and what's already in the National Capital Plan," Ms Barnes said.
The full guidelines can be found on the NCA website.
