Residents have a second chance to comment on a proposed retirement development to be built on Mount Prospect (“Planned retirement home raises density concerns”, Bulletin September 3 2015).
The initial planning application submitted to the City by Planning Partners was for 60 units and is now for 37 units (“Retirement village plans overturned”, Bulletin June 2, 2016).
Residents have until Monday July 17 to comment or object to the proposal to consolidate erfs 2641 and 2643, on Pagasvlei Road and Olive Close.
The proposal also includes rezoning from single residential to general residential for group housing.
However, one resident has already voiced his concerns about the nature and scale of this development.
Glenn Barker, 60, made a banner in protest and hung it on poles alongside the vacant land at the weekend.
He attached the City of Cape Town Planning advert to it which he found trampled in nearby bushes.
Having curious passers-by ask why he was there, he went in search of others to canvas their support and came across the developer Peter Jordan and the owner, Jane Porter, who was left the farm by Stanley Allan Porter, who died in 2010. Ms Porter would now like to retire on the land.
Constantia Residents’ and Ratepayers’ Association (CRRA) have also raised concerns. “We are not opposed to some form of development on Mount Prospect however, the planners appear to have deliberately left out of their planning application that Heritage Western Cape does not support the proposed development and their decision has been completely ignored in the planning application,” says John Hesom on behalf of CRRA.
And they say the City has chosen to advertise the developer’s planning application during a period that coincides with the June/July long school holidays when residents are away and professionals who may be called on to assist in response to the application are away on holiday and/or their offices are short-staffed.
“Some of the proposed buildings will negatively impact on the historically significant buildings and the typology of the proposed buildings is not at all appropriate in Mount Prospect’s rural context,” says Mr Hesom.
Geoff Underwood of Planning Partners says the existing historical house and barns located on the upper erf, alongside Groot Constantia, will be renovated and be used as a community centre, medical care facility and administrative office.
He says each house will have two parking bays and include a combination of single enclosed garage plus one outdoor bay and a double enclosed garage.
In addition, the plan makes provision for visitor parking distributed around the site alongside roadways or in parking courts. “The detail of this visitor parking has not been finalised but there is space for approximately 90 parking bays for staff and visitors,” says Mr Underwood.
The CRRA will continue with its opposition to the proposed development and have asked the City for an extension of time within which it can submit its objections to a very lengthy and complex planning application.
Mr Hesom said a reply from the City has not yet been received.
Written objections to the development should be lodged via email to comments_objections.southern@capetown.gov.za by Monday July 17. Objectors should include the case number 70342068, their erf number, name, address, and telephone number.
