Hout and About

News from Residents’Association of Hout Bay

PO Box 27031, Hout Bay, 7872

[October 2005]

PRINCESS / VICTORIA CIRCLE

Good news from the SPA’s Transport Roads & Planning! On enquiry we heard recently from Executive Director, Dave Buerger, that the long awaited traffic circle is, at last, firmly in the pipeline. After some major problems last year trying to get this project implemented, Mr. Buerger reported that the tender was to be advertised on 16 Sept with a closing date of mid-October. He hoped to get a contractor on site by mid-November although that may not be good timing in which event the work may only start in January 2006!

WARD ALLOCATION FUNDING

Each year funding is allocated to the Ward for minor capital and maintenance projects that may be recommended by the community. We put in some suggestions including implementation of the Commonage improvement project but have not heard yet what has been approved. However, funding has at last, we believe, been allocated for a skateboard park, which is most welcomed, as our young people need recreational facilities. We look forward to seeing this project implemented this financial year.

QUERIES re PLANNED FLATS

Erven 2809 & 2917, crn Cecil / Empire: It was reported to us that a 3-storey block of 39 one bed roomed flats is planned by Monarc Projects, for these two erven. On enquiry, SPA Planning has informed us that the erven are zoned General Residential which allows flats of 3 storeys (not 4) but that no application has yet been made to Council.

A similar development seems to be planned with 4 storeys on erven 2858, 2836 & 8241 (between Norman to Lancaster Roads, 48 flats adjacent to the Wetlands) although no applications have been received to date. The Consultant for the developer is holding a meeting with neighbouring property owners to seek their approval for a departure from the Zoning Scheme Regulations. We will be investigating.

HUGHENDON GATE

The gate originally used for officials to access the reservoir (but kept locked) has been repeatedly vandalized and is being used illegally to access informal settlements above Imizamo Yethu. Repeated requests to have this situation contained and the gate closed have eventually led to the Municipality refusing to take any action much to the disadvantage of the Hughendon residents. Further action is being contemplated.

FOLLOW UP ON APPLICATIONS

Hanging Meadow: The disputed illegal poles (associated with an application to lease and fence off this public land) remain embedded in the public land. We await some action on their removal.

Erf 4834 Baviaansclose: A bed and breakfast establishment at 15 Baviaanskloof Road, Hout Bay, which had been operating illegally for more than 4 years, recently had its application for departure heard at a meeting of the Spatial Planning, Environment and Land Use Management (SPELUM) Committee at the Civic Centre on 21 September 2005.

One of the main objections put forward by RAHB was that, according to established Council policy on Category 2 Bed and Breakfast accommodation, the owner/tenant must reside on the premises. In this case the owner/ tenant did not reside on the property but instead employed a housekeeper at the residence. One of the main reasons for the policy is to ensure that such premises are properly supervised against potential nuisance and noise. In spite of this flagrant violation of its own policy, the Committee approved the departure.

The approval was made on the basis of consensus, however Alderman Jespersen and Councillor Watkins requested that their vote against this violation of policy be recorded. The other councillors, namely Moodley, deVries, Fienies and Sotasche, seemed to think that it was quite admissible to ignore established Council policy on bed and breakfast accommodation. The decision is expected to be appealed.

Kronendal Farm: After a long period of no information on the proposed development of the property, we have received a request to withdraw our application for an interview with the Council. We intend meeting with the consultant this week to establish the current situation especially regarding our original comments on and objections to the most recent version of the proposal.

Erven 190 & 191, Victoria Avenue: Over time, we have reviewed various proposals for the development of this site, and have found the latest proposal (commercial with flats above) to be more acceptable, when compared to the previous submissions, but reserve the right to comment on the final plans. We note that the apparent mass of the building is reduced by making a gap in the centre of the skyline; and also by treating the upper floor differently to the lower ones. The proposed bulk is reduced and the building is now set back more appropriately on all sides; the building, although double-storeyed, at least now fits more comfortably within the 8m height limit; the problem of overlooking features is now no worse than an allowable double-storey; and the plan addresses the Victoria Avenue Management Plan and appears to cater for required on-site parking requirements.

Erven 1007-9 Broughton Close/ Skaif St: The developer of this land has agreed to comply with the 650-sq.m minimum erf size and to keep hard development away from the river environment, and in doing so has reduced the number of erven for redevelopment from five to four.The strip of land along the Baviaanskloof River is to be ceded to Council, which is usual but is to be commended. We have now withdrawn our objection.

Subdivision applications, recently for erf 8326 (21 Park Ave), erf 3644 (17 Louisa Way) and erf 1810 (3 Helgarda Ave), remain of concern as there seems to be little (or no) consideration of the legally approved development plans restricting erf size, nor of the subsequent cumulative effects of continuous subdivision on inadequate infrastructure (particularly roads and traffic congestion and safety) of approving each application willy-nilly. As we have pointed out in the past, there are areas zoned general residential, for example, which are entitled to densify by building flats which have yet to be fully developed. To add to this densification in progress by approving further densification where it is not planned for and without any commitment to providing adequate infrastructural improvements is irresponsible and not in the interests of Hout Bay

Applications to Council: Note that comments and objections may be sent (before the specified deadline in each case) to: The Executive Director, Urban and Environmental Services, South Peninsula Admin, City of Cape Town, Private Bag X5, Plumstead 7801 or faxed to 021 710-8283 (tel.–8202); attention Mr. M. Barnes. The general telephone number for the SPA is 710-8000.

Len Swimmer

Chairperson, Residents’ Assoc of Hout Bay

Tel: 790-0268, Email: lens@telkomsa.net

MEMBERSHIP

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Forms from Chairperson or Library.

[Oct 2005]