Six precinct areas have been identified for Mamre in the City of Cape Town’s Local Spatial Development Framework (LSDF). These precincts are categorised according to its characteristics and functioning and include, among others, the river corridor, business areas, sensitive natural areas, road structure and functioning as well as the urban development within the town. The LSDF further provides guidance in terms of most appropriate land use together with the principles that should be considered for development within each of these areas.
The LSDF precincts are as follows:. Mission site:
The area is a heritage conserve, with iconic structures such as the Moravian church (1818), Die Bakhuisie (1700), Kupper House (1770) and the Watermill (1840), and is the second-oldest mission station in South Africa.
On the western boundary of this area the Moravian cemetery is located. The site also includes historical remnants of canals and a water mill. This precinct is envisaged to accommodate: a restaurant/coffee shop; amphitheatre; Tourist accommodation; arts, crafts and locally produced merchandise shops; educational tours including Mamre Garden; and Cemetery Hill – footpath and picnic area
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Allotment gardens
The area is rich in culture and history, with the Modder River running in an east-west direction through the centre/core of this area.
The following uses are promoted in this area:
• Urban agriculture
• Walking/Running trails
• Training facility for urban agriculture. Existing urban area
The area consists of the existing urban footprint (built up) area making up the town of Mamre.
• Urban development, including residential, retail, offices and public facilities
• Recreation: parks, non-motorised transport routes
• Mix of uses
• Small-scale businesses, eg home enterprises. Economic nodes
The area stretches along the major transport and activity routes of Mamre, namely Main Road and Enon Street. The area represents a strong rural character as informal trading occurs in various locations within the area and is planned to accommodate:
• Formal business
• Informal trading
• Home occupations
• Pedestrian walkways
• Cycle routes
• Passive recreation. Urban expansion areas:
Various parcels of largely vacant land have been identified as opportunities for urban expansion. These include the land parcels at the entrance to Mamre nestled between Main Road and the river in the north. The other areas identified for in-fill development are located along Enon Street (between the existing residential development) and along Poiet/Silverstream Streets (adjacent to the sports fields). Uses that this area is planned to accommodate are:
• Residential(mixed market)
• Formal business
• Informal trading spaces
• Home enterprises
• Community facilities
• Recreation. Commonage and surrounds
The area comprises mainly large areas of high-potential agricultural land and conservation-worthy biodiversity.
A large portion of land has been transferred to the community of Mamre through the land reform process and is known as the Commonage. Uses that are promoted in this precinct are:
• Agriculture
• Conservation
• Recreation : Trails
• Tourist facilities
• Environmental education
• Wind energy farming
“In practical terms, the approval of the Mamre LSDF means that should an owner or investor have proposals for development on a specific site, the LSDF will be consulted to assess whether such proposals and the envisioned land uses are aligned with the City’s spatial policies. In so doing it will contribute towards the implementation of the development vision for Mamre.
“ It also means the City will make services available to accommodate the nature of and amount of development planned in the LSDF,” said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
