Another round of public participation is set to take place for the approval of a leash-free dog park and recreation area for Ward 113, specifically around Appaloosa Crescent and Circle Road greenbelt, West Riding in Table View.
This follows the first unsuccessful public participation process which was conducted in June.
The motion tabled by Ward councillor Joy Solomon was discussed at the Subcouncil 3 meeting held on Thursday last week.
According to the information shared at the meeting, people in the area drove past the City of Cape Town’s first attempt to conduct such a process.
The Public Participation Unit (PPU) said they have been in contact with the Ward councillor, to do the public participation again, and to conduct a letter drop-in to which residents can deliver their comments, the council heard on Thursday.
Solomon indicated however that there had been some development from the abutting school that also wants to make use of the land where the City wants to erect a leash-free dog park.
School wants to create drive-through
Solomons had a meeting with the principal of West Riding Primary School, to inform them of the plans, however the school indicated that they want to develop the area into a drive-through, she said.
“They have an issue with cars at 08:00 and 13:00. It is absolute chaos. They want to use it as a drive-through,” she told councillors. She said they want to weigh up their options.
“The reason for the public open space is that there is underground piping which you cannot dig deep into. I would say the school is a priority,” said Solomon.
Phindile Maxiti, Subcouncil chair, said there should be an additional process taken before the PPU starts the process again. He said that before the process, the school and the property should be engaged with.
“Undertaking the public participation without completing the first process, we could be putting the cart before the horse. We do not want to do the public participation and then later find out that the school cannot use the property,” said Maxiti.
