City faces backlash over Lansdowne mixed-use development
Image: supplied
The Lansdowne-Crawford community is strongly opposing a mixed-use development on Rokeby and Lawson Roads, arguing it clashes with the residential area and will cause major traffic, noise, and spatial issues.
They have expressed their dissatisfaction with its approval by the City of Cape Town despite their appeals.
In an open letter addressed to Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, the ward councillor, mayco member for Spatial Planning and Environment Eddie Andrews, and the developers and architects involved, the residents cited that the size, height, and the proposed business development, namely a supermarket and residential units, would cause traffic and noise congestion.
The site has since gone through the process of clearance by heavy-duty construction trucks in preparation for the development.
Despite objections, including a town planner's report citing zoning issues, their appeals failed.
The Lansford ( Lansdowne and Crawford) Ratepayers Association, via the appointment of their own town planning experts, lodged an eight page objection with the City.
They are now questioning the City's approval, why the entrance is on Rokeby instead of Jan Smuts Drive, and whether residents' concerns are ignored in favor of developers profits.
The City maintains the application followed due process and access from Rokeby Road was deemed necessary.
The development is set to take place on a vacant piece of land where five separate properties are situated, which belongs to Argento Properties, who previously said they would not comment, while another request for comment has been made.
The City said in their response to the approval of the development that the residents' appeal was taken into consideration and that the Municipal Planning By-Laws were adhered to.
'The land use application went through the proper land use application process as prescribed by the Municipal Planning By-law, and was considered appropriate in its location,' said the City.
'It should be noted that comments and objections form part of the consideration of such an application, but taking various factors into consideration the application was supported and approved.
'Note that where there are objections received against a land use application, it does not necessarily mean that an application will be refused.
'The application was assessed as prescribed by the Municipal Planning By-law, taking various aspects into consideration and the application was supported."
The residents said they would continue to show disapproval for the approval of the application.
'On behalf of the community of the Lansdowne-Crawford area, represented in part by the persons attached, we hereby wish to loudly declare our ongoing objection and vehement disapproval of the planned mixed-used development on the corners of Rokeby and Lawson Roads,' the residents said jointly from the Lansford community
'Not only is the development not in keeping with the existing, mainly residential make-up of the area, but the retail/commercial nature will seriously impact the entire residential area.
'The size, including the height, of the development, as well as the nature of the proposed business, namely large supermarkets and smaller shops, will have major traffic, noise, and spatial impact.
'Delivery and shopper access is planned to be on Rokeby Road, meaning that, daily, there will be dozens of trucks and hundreds of cars entering Lawson, into Rokeby.
'This will further choke up an already congested primary road, used by the community.'
City of Cape Town faces backlash over mixed-use development approval Residents of the Lansdowne-Crawford community express strong opposition to a newly approved mixed-use development, citing concerns over traffic, noise, and the impact on their residential area.
Image: supplied
They added that existing commercial developments along Kromboom Road, such as a supermarket on the corner of Kromboom and Sunnyside Roads, were already a significant inconvenience to the community, which brought constant traffic congestion.
Videos of how the construction impacted their daily lives were shared with the Cape Argus, showing pots and pans rattling in kitchen cupboards.
The City explained why the entrance would be along Rokeby: 'As part of the processing of the application, it was indicated that access to the site would only be permissible from Rokeby Road, due to the class of road (Jan Smuts Drive) and also the permissible access distances permitted from the intersection of Jan Smuts Drive and Lawson Road. '
Ward 60 councillor, Mark Kleinschmidt, who was included in the correspondence, said: 'The development is in ward 48 and when the area was in ward 60, I advised the developer to meet with local residents because if they were going to be neighbours it should be amicable.
"That was the last I heard.
'Neighbours must be consulted and the issue falls in ward 48 currently.' Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.
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