City of Nedlands planning and development director Peter Mickleson handed his resignation to mayor Cilla de Lacy on Monday to take up an offer in the eastern states.
Mr Mickleson,a town planner with three decades'experience in local government across four different councils,had led Nedlands'planning department for more than eight years.
His resignation comes months after Bill Hassell stood down from his role as Nedlands deputy mayor after nearly a decade over ongoing frustration at the powerlessness of local councils.
Planning has long been a contentious topic within the City of Nedlands,with attempts by the council to open the door to higher-density development proving deeply unpopular with ratepayers.
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Many are concerned excessive development is encroaching into their backyards and destroying the character of the leafy suburb. They are also concerned new state planning laws passed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic,which allow developers to bypass councils and development panels in order to get direct approval from the WA Planning Commission,will see projects that would have never previously been approved get the green light.
In response to growing opposition,the City of Nedlands recently hired a powerful PR firm linked to the Labor Party,CGM Communications,at a cost of $60,000,to manage community concerns.