Cape Town backtracks to approve golf estate property development
Cape Town has finally approved an application to build an 18-hole golf course, reconstructive clinic and retirement village in Durbanville - a plan that was vehemently opposed by local residents.
In 2009 when the application for the Bella River Golf Estate was first submitted, it was reported that the proposed mixed-use development in Durbanville - described as a "monstrosity" by the Durbanville Community Forum (DCF) - would also include commercial sites.
The application for the 500 hectare Bella Riva Golf Estate is one of many development proposals for the area - most of which fall outside the city's urban edge. The development was given the go-ahead by the city council's Spatial Planning, Environment and Land Use Management (Spelum) Committee.
The residents' main concern was that the plans would encroach on historical agricultural land.
Councillor Taki Amira said at the time that the community would not support a development that fell outside the urban edge, as it would "set a precedent".
The city's spatial development framework allows for the shifting of the urban edge to allow for low-cost housing.
While Amira said in August 2009 that the Bella Riva development did not qualify, Spelum committee chairman Christo Kannenberg said the committee took a decision to allow the application at the end of last year.
"Spelum has already made a decision and forwarded it to the mayor before it goes to the province.
"Our committee had it approved. We are aware of their (DCF) position, but this was also recommended by the local sub-council," said Kannenberg.
George Sieraha of the DCF said the organisation was still opposed to the development and was just waiting for the local government MEC Anton Bredell to make the final decision.
In a letter dated June 13, 2011, the developers wrote that specialist studies showed that the land in question had no agricultural qualities and could not be farmed.
The City of Cape Town also commissioned an agricultural land study during 2006.
"The findings of this study are consistent with the findings of the above individual studies and confirm the relative low agricultural value of the Bella Riva application site," read the city's report.
TV3 Architects and Town Planners, on behalf of developers Sage Wise 67, said it was within the above context that the proposed Bella Riva Golf Course "is considered to be a viable and desirable alternative utilisation of the properties in question".
"In addition to limited alternative agricultural utilisation, the following considerations are deemed to be in support of the establishment of the Bella Riva Golf Course as an appropriate land use," said consultants.
The company said the Bella Riva development proposal provided the opportunity to establish a golf course in a newly identified growth area of Kraaifontein North-east Development Corridor.
Cape Times
Posted at 11:58AM Feb 06, 2012 by Editor in Cities and Towns |