Hout and
About
News from Residents’Association of Hout Bay
PO Box 27031, Hout Bay,
7872
rahb@houtbay.org.za www.houtbay.org.za
July 2006
STOP EROSION OF URBAN EDGE !
Erf 1480: We have received an application to rezone and
subdivide a mountainside erf, positioned high on Skoorsteenkop above Berg en
Dal, from Rural (for nature purposes) to Sub-divisional Area for Single
Residential use, a Private Road and two Private Open Spaces for the development
of 16 houses. The application includes a
proposed amendment of the Peninsula Urban Edge and the Cape Peninsula Protected
National Environment (CPPNE) boundaries – these boundaries were painstakingly
set to protect the natural environment from exactly this sort of proposal. In any case, the land is inappropriately
steep for development with slopes of 1:1.5 (the guidelines for Hout Bay
are 1:4); and approval would set a most unfortunate precedent of eroding the
Urban Edge purely for the convenience of the developer. The applicant suggests that there is no need
for an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) – this needs to be (and shall be)
challenged. The deadline for comment is Monday 31 July 2006. However, the advertisement in the press positioned
the erf on Main Road
and Penzance Ave,
which is a very different setting and would not necessarily attract the sort of
attention that the rezoning of a mountainside erf would in terms of potential
objections. With this in mind, the
Association has written to the SPA requesting re-advertisement and the
con-commitment extension of the deadline for comment to ensure transparent
public participation. To date we have
had no reply but shall follow up with the authorities. Meanwhile, we shall respond and encourage
others to do so as soon as possible to prevent this precedent being set by
default (see below for address and fax number for objections, the application
can be viewed at the Library and the SPA offices in Plumstead). The Applicant is Target Shelf 151 CC, which we
believe to be controlled by a developer
known as ‘Costa’.
OTHER NEW APPLICATIONS
Erf 3507, corner Sentinel
Street & Bay View Drive, Hout Bay Heights:
Application for a land-use departure for a Bed and Breakfast, Category 2, with 6 bedrooms. While our Association does not object to the
establishment of B&Bs generally as they provide employment and
accommodation attracting holiday makers, tourism and business generally, we are
concerned that the City’s policy with regard to the establishment and running
of such establishments is conformed with and that neighbours are not unduly
inconvenienced. Clarity is therefore
required here with respect to some aspects of the application e.g. the requirement
(for B&Bs in both Categories 1 and 2) that the
owner/tenant should reside on the premises, that the number of people being
catered for does not exceed the maximum allowed, and that sufficient off-street
parking is provided according to policy.
Deadline for comment: Fri 4 August 2006.
Erf 4797, No. 15
Park Ave, Victors Kloof: Application to subdivide this Single
Residential erf into three, thereby departing from the density requirements as
specified in the Victors Kloof Development Plan. Deadline
for comment: Wed 9 August 2006.
UPDATES ON PLANNING ISSUES
SPELUM interviews: We
attended the Council’s Spatial, Planning and Land Use meeting last Tuesday to
speak to our objections to the proposed subdivisions of three different erven in Park
Ave (erf numbers 5490, 5485 and 8726). The debate within the Committee was keen and
our objection was overturned only by a narrow margin (4:3) – in due course, we
will be sure to appeal full Council.
Erf 3797, proposed extension to Chapman’s Peak Hotel: After attending two meetings on the
Heritage aspects of the proposed extension, we received a letter from the owner
regarding various departures from the zoning scheme required for implementation
of the plan. These departures are quite
substantial and involve the relaxation of building lines (from 8m to 3.2m on
the street side, and 6m to 1 m at the back of the proposed building), coverage
(from 35% to 52%), height (11m to 13.4m), and of permitted storeys (3 to
4). While we support the concept of
upgrading and extending the hotel, we do have reservations regarding the scale
of some of these departures and would also like clarity from the SPA regarding
various aspects of the proposal. In
addition, we believe that the application should be formally advertised in the normal way so that the broader public
(not just the neighbours and selected organizations) has an opportunity to
comment should they so wish. Our query
to the SPA, regarding this apparent deviation from normal procedures, has not
yet been answered. At this stage, we
assume that the normal advertising process will still be followed by the
municipality.
Koeel Bay – proposed hotel below Chapman’s Peak Drive: The Final Scoping Report has been issued
(copies in Libraries and Museum) with no changes to the draft version except
that an Addendum has been added. The Hout Bay
and Llandudno Environmental and Conservation Group (a bonded body of concerned
local associations) is planning to meet with other concerned parties on 9
August to discuss what action can be taken regarding this proposal for
commercial development within the wilderness area of the National Park as this
could have wider implications.
LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUES
Relocation of ‘Cheroots’: It
has been brought to our attention that the pub, Cheroots, has relocated to new
premises in Royal Avenue. At this stage, our Association is not aware
of this usage being advertised or that a license has been applied for, for
these new premises. Any concerns
regarding this issue may be forwarded to our Association, and they will be sent
on to the relevant authorities.
Illegal commercial usage of public space: The South Peninsula
traffic department has been alerted to the increasing usage of the area on the
corner of Main Road
and Princess Street
for selling and leasing cars. Some
action has already been taken by the traffic department which intends to start
towing these cars away. So, you have
been warned – this is not a commercial area!
Signage: Effort is being
directed to ensure that signage in Hout
Bay complies with Council
policy. Recently the Wimpy sign in the
road reserve on the corner of Harbour and Princess Street was removed. Rattle Property has been served with a notice
to remove the ‘sold’ board at 155
Victoria Ave (scenic route). Metro Police have served summons on the
director of Imfunalwaze Township Tours, who has also been served notice to
remove ANC parliamentary signage from the road reserve. A legal letter has been sent to Shire Homes
to have the signage on Kronendal Farm removed.
We hope that the parties involved will comply with the relevant
regulations which have been put into place for good reasons.
Squatting on the dunes: Thanks
to both SAPS and the SPA law enforcement, that two
lots of informal settlement have been moved from the Princess Road dunes between Beach Club
and Victoria Ave. Thanks also to residents who take the trouble
to alert the Association and the Authorities on such matters. This shows that team work between residents
and the authorities can be very effective.
Traffic Monitoring and Crime:
The Traffic Department of Cape Town has been requested to monitor the
entrances and exits of Hout
Bay during rush hour and
on Friday nights in view of the recent spate of accidents. This is likely to also put a dampener on the
influx of criminal activity. Congratulations
to the Neighbourhood Watch and the SAPS Capt Gerhard van den Berg – the latest
news is that we have achieved one week
with no house breakings – well done and keep it up!
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 Affairs and Development Planning:
Directorate Integrated Environmental Management, Region B1, Private Bag X9086 Cape Town 8000 or fax to
483-3098 (tel. -2700 for Environment and -4789 for Planning) in time to arrive
by the deadline.
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Please
remember that your subscriptions
were due on at the beginning of March 2006.
They may be paid electronically (use your full name as a reference on
the payment – to ensure that we correctly credit your membership as this
information appears on our Bank Statement.
Banking Details: First National Bank, Hout Bay Branch (branch
code 204 009), Account name - Residents Association of Hout Bay, Account Number
– 5345 1027 173. If
you prefer, payment can also be dropped into our wooden box at the Library
(next to the Hall doors) or posted to our Post Office Box: 27031 Hout Bay,
7872.
Len
Swimmer
Chairperson, Residents’ Assoc of Hout Bay
Tel: 790-0268, Email: lens@telkomsa.net
MEMBERSHIP
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July 2006