News from Residents’Association of Hout Bay
PO Box 27031, Hout Bay, 7872
rahb@houtbay.org.za
www.houtbay.org.za
Dec 2005
PUBLIC HEARINGS ABOUT SERVICE DELIVERY
The Department of the Premier has invited participation in public hearings about service delivery in the Western Cape so as to determine public perceptions and expectations of service delivery on provincial and local (i.e. municipal) government levels. Interested parties can
* Make an oral submission
* Send a written submission.
* Attend the hearings just to listen.
Submissions should address the following key questions:
1. What are the public's perceptions and expectations of provincial and local (i.e. municipal) government's service delivery?
2. What are the public's priorities for the improvement of provincial and local (i.e. municipal) government's service delivery?
3. How does the public see the challenges of multi-channel service?
delivery (e.g. telephone, e-mail, Internet (website), call-centre, in-person office visits etc.) and citizen satisfaction as they relate to these channels of service delivery?
4. How does the public see the relationship between service quality and confidence in provincial and local (i.e. municipal) government?
5. How often do you or your organisation use the Internet to obtain provincial and local (i.e. municipal) government information and access services?
For Cape Town the hearing is on Tues 13 Dec at the OR Thambo Hall, Mew Way, Khayelitsha from 09:00 - 17:00.
Individuals and organisations wishing to make oral submissions must register
by e-mail at ca-lp@iafrica.com or by phone at 072-382-6712. Written submissions must be submitted by Mon 19 Dec by email to ca-lp@iafrica.com, by fax to (021) 8874124 or by post to PO Box 12740, Die Boord, 7613.
We encourage members of the public to use this opportunity.
Integrated Zoning Scheme (IZS): The Greater Cape Town Civic Alliance (GCTCA) has informed us that the proposed new IZS is still under internal review within the Council (a further meeting is to be held on 12 Dec). Planning official, Susan Matthysen, has promised that input will not be required from us during the holiday season. It seems that the review process, including mapping, will start some time in the new year. We await further progress and opportunity to comment further.
Groot Moddergat, Main Road: Earlier this year we examined an application to further subdivide the remainder of Groot Moddergat i.e. what is left after the high-density development of North Oaks was allowed some years ago, with its rather inappropriate architecture and density. A revised plan is currently being assessed, bearing in mind the heritage importance of the site and the homestead.
Kronendal Farm development proposal: We have been informed that the developer is hoping to split the application so that the proposed Retirement Village can be developed independently of the rest of the farm. While we have some sympathy with this intention (particularly because of the long time it has taken to process the rather complicated application), we are also concerned with the possible negative implications of allowing the more lucrative part of the proposed development to go ahead without finalizing the conditions for the whole project. We are currently investigating the issue.
Kronendal Office Park: The possible redevelopment of this area is also being examined. We would like to see some sort of synergy developing between the homestead, the surrounding building and the farm as the heritage value of this area is outstanding and could have considerable potential for the various owners and tenants particular from a tourism perspective.
Erf
3286 Riverside Terrace Hout Bay -
We are
concerned about an application to subdivide a two-acre small holding (into two) where the minimum erf
size is two acres (8000 sq.m).
This property is one of many similarly sized erven in the valley river
corridor most of which are smallholdings.
The reason that the erven were zoned Agricultural at the time was most
certainly to ensure the area would not become one of high density in the future
when property would become more at a premium in Hout Bay. Smallholdings in this area are an integral
part of the rural character of the Valley river corridor and subdivisions have
been resisted for many years because of setting a precedent that would result
in unplanned densification and the destruction of the valued ‘rural character’
of the area.
Erf 5490 Park Ave: A subdivision
application in the Victorskloof area for two erven of 4000 and 4110 sq.m is
being examined to see if it is consistent with the Management Plan for the
area.
Erf 3769 Crn Victoria Ave / Cecil Street (Postklip): Application for a land use departure to permit offices (Deadline for comment 25 January 2006). Unfortunately this residence is already being used for offices without approval. The property is surrounded by residential usage, and so would represent an isolated commercial incursion. This creep we are trying to prevent by discouraging applications for primarily residential developments in the commercial zone further down Victoria Avenue. As a town-planning principle, this pressure to form strip development is to be resisted. We are aware of alternative available office accommodation suitable for this type of enterprise elsewhere in Hout Bay. The “parking layout” showing ten cars in tandem is euphemistic in the extreme, and the access at the corner of Cecil Street and Victoria Avenue is most undesirable. We intend opposing this application as it sets an extremely bad precedent for the future development of Victoria Avenue.
Erven 1126-9, Beach Road (dune next to car park): Proposed rezoning from amenity to commercial to permit a hotel, departure from 8m height restriction to 9.25 metres, and the waiving of the waiving of the side and rear boundary building lines for the proposed basement. Deadline for comment is 25 January 2006.
Applications to Council: Note that comments and objections
may be sent (before the specified deadline in each case) to: The Municipal
Manager, 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.
BEST WISHES FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Since
this will be the last “Hout and About” for 2005, the Residents' Association
Executive Committee and I, wish to thank all those who have given of their
time to support the efforts of RAHB. We
wish the whole Community a restful, secure and joyous festive season and a
prosperous New Year. Please be
careful with regards to personal and house security. Remember to notify your
Neighbourhood Watch if you are going away and leave contact details. The Traffic Department has been asked to pay
attention to the Hout Bay area over Xmas and New Year’s eve to help with
traffic flow and combat crime and drunken driving. This should also keep the
opportunistic crime rate down and deter ‘visiting’ criminals coming into our
area. The NSRI will focus on safety at
sea and especially watch the safety of children on the beaches and bathing areas;
they will be working closely with the Waterwise program this year to heighten
awareness of making children water safe in the Hout Bay Communities. Have fun and a well-earned holiday,
remembering those in need.
Chairperson, Residents’ Assoc of Hout Bay
Tel: 790-0268, Email: lens@telkomsa.net
(R50 per couple, R30 per individual)
Forms from Chairperson or Library.
- Dec 2005