Cape Town property owners are quick to prevent high-density projects going up in their neighbourhoods but they should know the zoning rules first.
While Cape Town residents often object to high density housing units going up in the suburbs, the reality is that they should consult the exacting development rules that are rigorously applied by the city administrators.
This is the view of Paul Henry, managing director of Rawson Developers who points out that Cape Town’s development rules are some of the most stringent in the country.
“People who protest about new developments fail to understand that the council is trying to reverse the injustices of the apartheid system that forced poor non-white people to live on the urban fringe. Now the council is trying to allow in-city residential developments and to increase the density of residential areas close to the city,” he says.
Referring to Cape Town’s integrated zoning scheme – which will shortly become law – Henry says it combines it combines 20 different zoning schemes that have been amalgamated into a single system.
Moreover in terms of the city’s metropolitan spatial development policy, densification in urban corridors of between 40 and 100 units per hectare is allowed.
“When such plans are announced, objectors quickly run off to their councillors and whine about the new scheme. These people should acquaint themselves with the zoning rulings rather than wasting time for the council and the many developers who are affected by these protests,” he says.
The document outlining the zoning rules can be viewed at http://map.capetown.gov.za/PBDM_Viewer/.
“Most developers are sensitive to the community needs and always consult with residents prior to going ahead with a new project,” he claims. “There is little point for residents to then try to prevent a development by attempting to overturn the zoning rules. Rather these residents should work with the developers to ensure that the neighbourhood and the community benefit from the development,” he says.
He claims that not one of the high-density developments undertaken by his company had lowered property values in the suburbs where they were erected.
In a separate development Nedbank has confirmed that it will finance the R55-million development of Rondebosch Oaks that is being undertaken by Rawson. It will comprise 106 two-bedroom apartments of between 48sqm and 50sqm.
There will be eight freestanding or semi-detached buildings either two or three storeys high on the 8 000sqm stand. Rawson has been involved in a number of developments in Durbanville, Tokai and in the Parklands and Table View areas.
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