Twenty single-storey townhouses will be built on community-facility zoned land on the corner of Darwinia Terrace, Kathner Street and Percy Crescent in Chapman.

It's part of a tranche of public housing being built across Canberra to replace the ageing slabs of public housing along Northbourne Corridor, and the inner north and south of Canberra.

However some local residents opposed the Chapman housing plans, because of the bushfire threat and the zoning of the land.

Weston Creek Community Council chair Tom Anderson said it was "about the best outcome you could get, if you accepted public housing was going to be built there".

"People are still not happy the community-facility zoned land will be used for public housing and they're not happy with the way it occurred but the layout and reduction of numbers to 20 duplex townhouses probably fit as well as any buildings," Mr Anderson said.

"I still have concerns about the location of people there, if they don't have transport they'll have to rely on the once-hour bus when it runs by. It's a long way from the school in Chapman if they have children, it's close to two kilometres away, and it's about 800-900 metres to Rivett. It's not an easy suburb to navigate without private transport."

The Chapman site was one of five earmarked for new public housing last year, but was by far the most controversial.

An aged care facility planned for the site was scuttled in 2014 because of the fire risk.

The approved public housing development application said the ACT Emergency Services Agency had provided advice on the conditions for the site.

"The applicant provided a detailed bushfire report that indicates the buildings will be built to BAL19 which will be above the requirement," the planning documents said.

"The landscaping plans have provided a detailed response that the planting and other landscaping materials will be of high quality in relation to fire.

"The mitigation measures in this approval are to be maintained for the life of the residence.

"Special care needs to be exercised by the lessee to ensure that any future building works and modifications to the dwelling and additional landscaping does not compromise the mitigation measures imposed."

The approved application also said public housing was an "efficient" use of the zoning of the site, providing homes for disadvantaged Canberrans.

Locals had raised concerns building housing on-site was inconsistent with the community-facility zoning of the site, the name of which seems to suggest a usage by clubs or as recreation space.

Documents released under Freedom of Information laws last year revealed the government began looking at using community-facility zoned land as an alternative land supply option in 2015, saying the use hinged on a "clarification" of the definition of social housing.

The government later introduced a technical amendment to "clarify" that he site could indeed be used for housing.

Residents also believed there was not enough amenities or public transport in the area to support public housing tenants.

However the planning documents pointed to a bus stop 500 metres away and the "relative close proximity" to Cooleman Court and Woden.

"The proposed development will provide adaptable housing for persons in need of residential support or care," the documents read.

"All proposed dwellings are to adaptable standards to allow for those with such need to have appropriate accommodation.

"The development will contribute to a socially sustainable and inclusive environment where government and non-government facilities and services are readily available for individuals, families and communities."