A development is set to take place in Melkbosstrand on 52 and 54 Beach Road in 2023 after the public participation process was completed at the end of 2020. However, the developers have recently received some backlash from the community after a public meeting was held on 10 August which further discussed the building plans.
“The plan is to build a four-storey, mixed-use development with four shops and offices with a gross leasable area of 101 m² on the ground floor and 15 units on the next three floors with an average floor space of 100 m²,” according to Eddie Andrews, Deputy Mayor and Mayco member for spatial planning and environment.
According to both the City Of Cape Town as well as the local ward councillor, Paul Swart, the building plans, such as the height of the four-storey property, which has been a point of contention among the community, have been approved, and is above board with City rules and regulations.
“The single residential zoning permits a height of 11 m to the top of the roof. The application entailed a rezoning from single residential (SR1) to general business (GB2), and the GB2 zoning presents an overall height restriction of 15 m. The approved proposal’s height is at 14,9 m. The building plans do not exceed the permitted GB2 zoning height,” Andrews said.
Another concern highlighted by Melkbosstrand resident Cristina Fernandez del Valle, is continued sewage spills in the area, which according to Del Valle will be exacerbated by the development on 52 and 54 Beach Road.
“Melkbosstrand has been struggling with sewage spills in Beach Road for years, so if we add more people living in this street, the sewage problem will increase,” Del Valle said.
However, according to Pieter Prinsloo, a developer of 52 and 54 Beach Road, the onus is not the responsibility of the owners of the properties to assess the extent of the sewage spills, nor be responsible to fix the sewerage system before construction commences.
Del Valle, who also recently held a petition against the development, and received a thousand signatures of Melkbosstrand opposing the building plans, resists the development due to the contrasting look and feel it will create to the area.
“Melkbosstrand is known for being a safe, relaxed, and family oriented town, and starting this development will bring another kind of vibe to our area,” she explained, signalling that the amount of new feet that will enter Melkbosstrand will bring about more crime, noise, and parking problems as currently seen in the rest of Cape Town.
Prinsloo, however, contests this statement, saying that visual impact assessments have been conducted, and it is not the developer’s aim to diverge from the look and feel of the coastal town, and that the building has been designed to fit in with current architecture.
Furthermore, Prinsloo explained that the majority of Melkbosstrand remains positive about the development, and does not reflect the opinions of the 1 000 signatures on Del Valle’s petition.
