Hout and About

News from Residents’Association of Hout Bay

PO Box 27031, Hout Bay, 7872

rahb@houtbay.org.za       www.houtbay.org.za

March 2006

City of Cape Town & Local Government

With the local elections now passed, we expect a new broad-based coalition of political parties with a more open rather than a secretive approach to important matters affecting the community. Hopefully, sanity will be restored and a sustainable appropriate approach with regard to development will be put into practice. The power supply shortage for Cape Town has highlighted the folly of development without forethought or infrastructure. Until Hout Bay has a better road system (and the proposed High Level Road is built), the sewerage is upgraded and the water and electricity supply delivered in adequate quantities, development should be curtailed. Once the infrastructure has caught up, only appropriate development should be sanctioned. We are pleased to see that the Western Cape Government has adopted a comprehensive new planning strategy for the province, which sets out clearly it’s intention to create a new, environmentally friendly and genuine sustainable planning blueprint for the future. Of great importance to us, is the defining of the urban edges of towns throughout the province – an essential step in retaining the integrity of rural areas that have been specifically targeted by developers in recent years. John Yeld (journalist for the Cape Argus) writes in African Wildlife Summer 2006 as follows: “If diligently and comprehensively implemented without fear or favour by the provincial authorities, the new planning strategy should indeed create a future development path for the province that is environmentally sound, and at the same time economically and socially sustainable in the long term. It can prevent the rampant development of more ‘old apartheid’-style security complexes” – see new proposed application, hereunder in Podicherry Road.

 

NEW PLANNING APPLICATIONS

Council:  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. 

DEADP:  Comments to be sent to Dept of Environmental and Development Planning: Land Development Management, Private Bag X9083, Cape Town 8000 or fax to 483-3098 (tel.  -2700 for Environment and -4789 for Planning) in time to arrive by the deadline.

Complaints on dumping : Contact DEADP Integrated Environmental Management - Mr Z Toef y, Utilitas Bld (10th Floor) 1 Dorp Street. Fax 021 483-4372 (Tel 483-2700 cell: 083 648 5338) Law Enforcement Component: Ms Farah Abrahams (Tel 021 483-8779)                        email:  faabraha@pgwc.gov.za  

 

Erven 3974, 3975 and 3976 Numbers 6, 4 and 2 Pondicherry, Northshore Estate-:  Nature of Application: 1. Proposed rezoning of above three erven from Single Residential to General Residential to permit 15 flats and          2. Proposed departure from Zoning Scheme Regulations for the waiving of the 8 metre street building line in order to permit a guard house and refuse room.

Deadline for submission of objections and comments: 27 March 2006

We will be putting in a very strong objection to this proposed development which is inappropriate. Bad precedents have been set in this area and they typify examples of what should not have happened and as such should definitely not be used as a guide to further such development in this area. Appropriate development is in Beach Estate where there already exists General Residential Zoning for flats.

 

Koeelbaai, Chapman’s Peak Drive

We have received the following Notice from Seaton Thomson & Associates of Pretoria:

NOTICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS: KOEL BAY, HOUT BAY, CAPE PENINSULAR NATIONAL PARK

The Application states that it is the intention of Tintswalo Atlantic (Pty) Ltd to build a Guest Lodge and associated facilities to include “a main communal centre with a small restaurant, a ‘meet-and-greet’ reception area, a small health spa, 6 accommodation units for 24 beds, a small staff accommodation area to house 8 key management staff, a ‘back-of-house’ store area & a maintenance workshop.” The footprint of the development is approx 3 Hectares.

The location is 1,2 km from the toll gate.

A public meeting has been scheduled on the site for 16 March 2006 @ 17:00. There will be a Notice Board on Chapman’s Peak Drive directing the public to the entrance of the site and where parking is arranged.

It is imperative that the public attend this meeting as this proposed development is on an extremely sensitive area surrounded by marine fauna and flora biodiversity conservation components.

Our Association opposed the previous application on this site by Halcion Hotel Group

Erf 1491 Cnr Disa & Main Roads

We have received a number of complaints regarding the dumping of fill on this site as it is alleged that the land is mostly below the 1 in 50 year flood line. It has been reported to us that “ huge earth-moving equipment has moved in, trees that have been planted along the road have been flattened, street signs have been smashed and traffic builds up in all directions when these trucks move in and out”. We have alerted the Provincial Authorities to these activities and the contact numbers for reporting such activities and the persons to speak to are featured above.  

UP-DATE ON PREVIOUS ISSUES

Erf 865 Ixia Street Scott Estate:

Application for proposed subdivision and zoning scheme regulation departures to subdivide erf 865 which is 2581 sq.m into 3 portions: portion1- 827,3 sq m; portion 2 – 770,3 sq m & portion 3 – 983,4 sq m.

Deadline for submission of comment was 10 March 06.

Erf 4454 - Main Road (opposite Dorman Road):  Application for conditional use of agricultural plot for Montessori Pre-Primary School for 53 children (maximum 90).  We have supported this application with provisions and subject to removal of alien vegetation and energy and water saving devices being implemented.Deadline for comment was - Friday 10 March 06.

Erf 1491 - Disa River Farm, Main Road:  Application from ‘Lets Trade 1044 CC’ for the removal of restrictive title conditions on an agricultural erf for a departure for commercial use by owner and tenants for earthmoving equipment hire, landscaping company, making compost, storing soil, parking and servicing equipment and trucks,

and storage of trucks. Our submission to DEADP outlined the legal obligations of province to reject application and deny removal of restrictions as applied for. The granting of this application could result in an inappropriate industrial node being created in this area, thus altering the area forever.

Deadline for comment was – Friday 10 March 06. 

Erf 1827 - No 4 Helgarda Road, off Victoria Ave:  Application for (1) the removal of restrictive title conditions (preventing subdivision of properties in this township and the development of more than one third of the property thereby protecting the character of the area). Our submission to the Province opposing this application, pointed out that Province can not justify the application in terms of the requirements of Act 84 of 1967 (Removal of Restrictive Conditions) or Section 36 of Act 15 of 1985 of the Land Use Planning. Ordinance.  Deadline for comment to DEADP and SPA) was – Friday 10 March 06. 

 Erven 1810, Helgarda Avenue REQUEST FOR INTERVIEW: Application for Removal of Restrictions and Subdivision

 We have requested this interview and are waiting to be advised of time and date it will take place before the SPELUM Committee, Civic Centre Cape Town. Due to the Local Government elections the SPELUM meetings have been delayed. We have opposed this application and will continue to do so and have been asked to represent residents in the area at the forthcoming meeting.

 

GENERAL COMMENT

As you can see above, we are dealing with many applications at present.  We would, however, like to point out that with all these activities going on we still make the time to support Albert Schuitemaker’s proposal on energy saving when he says that “since the municipalities are unlikely to do anything that will have a negative impact on their revenue stream, it is necessary to go over their heads and ask the Government to take the necessary action in the national interest. The kind of steps that can be taken are as simple as getting the SA Bureau of Standards (SABS) to come up with new and better specifications for the insulation of hot water geysers and the thermal blankets used to prevent heat loss on older models”. The switching off of hot water geysers when not in use will also go a long way in saving energy. This Association is requesting all developers to introduce water and energy saving devices into their new projects as a regular feature. We will not look at any new application if it does not comply with these specifications.

Finally, I’d like to advise you that your subscriptions that are now due, as of 1 March 2006, may be paid electronically. Banking Details are:

1. a/c Residents Association of Hout Bay

 BANK:                         FIRST NATIONAL

BRANCH:                      HOUT BAY

BRANCH CODE:           204 009

ACCOUNT No:               5345 1027 173

            2. Please use your FULL Name as a reference on the payment – to ensure that we correctly credit your membership payment – this information will appear on our Bank Statement.

 

If you prefer, payment can also be dropped into our wooden box next to the Hall doors at the Library or posted to our Post Office Box: 27031 Hout Bay, 7872

Our A G M is scheduled for the 08 May 2006

Len Swimmer

Chairperson, Residents’ Assoc of Hout Bay

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

MEMBERSHIP

(R50 per couple, R30 per individual)

or amount of a donation you wish to make.

Forms from Chairperson or Library next to our box.

                                         March 2006