Concept designs for 'Nelson Place Village' show four residential towers up to 12 storeys high and 69 three-storey townhouses.

The 18,580-square-metre site is bounded by Nelson Place and Ann and Kanowna streets.

BAE, formerly known as Tenix, owned part of the land zoned as special use (marine engineering area), which makes the State Government the responsible authority. The rest of the site has industrial zoning.

Concept designs by Kesha Chakhvorostov were prepared for Bruce Henderson Architects and posted on the former's website. But they were mysteriously removed last week.

Mr Chakhvorostov said he was no longer employed by the firm and could not comment. Hobsons Bay councillor Angela Altair said an application to rezone the site had been lodged which, if successful, would pave the way for residential development.

"An application has been received on behalf of Nelson Place Village Pty Ltd seeking to rezone land at 31 Nelson Place and adjoining sites on Aitken Street and BAE land on Kanowna Street.

"The amendment request proposes to rezone the land from a special use zone (marine engineering area) to a residential zone.

"The amendment proposes a development plan overlay which would allow development from 11.5 metres to 46.5 metres (three to 12 storeys).

"We'd be making sure any new development complies with the current height controls and protects the amenity of the local area."

Plans presented to the council include:

A 12-storey tower with 100 apartments on the corner of Aitken and Kanowna streets.

Two eight-storey buildings with a total of 140 apartments.

A six-storey block with 50 apartments on the corner of Ann Street and Nelson Place.

Seventy-nine three-storey apartments or townhouses.

667 parking spaces.

Building heights in the plans are quadruple the height presently allowed.

"The Hobsons Bay planning scheme currently applies a mandatory height limit of two and three storeys to the site and surrounding area," Cr Altair said.

"The council is currently considering the amendment request."

Bruce Henderson had failed to respond by the time of going to press.