Final Opportunity to Lodge Objections

The owner of ERF 8, Mount Pleasant (55 Buffelsfontein Road, Mount Pleasant through to 38 Greenways, Lovemore Heights) has applied for rezoning from Residential 1 to Residential 3 to allow the development of 24 (TWENTY FOUR) Sectional title units on this property of 1952 square metres. This development equates to a footprint of 81 square metres per unit, and that is without even making allowance for vehicular traffic.

At the recent NMMM Housing & Land meeting on Friday 24th May 2013, despite objections raised by residents it was voted to allow this development to proceed. Councillor, Mr Stanford Slabbert then called for the item to be deferred until such time that Buffelsfontein Road has been upgraded to a double carriageway.

This request was ignored.

However, a window of opportunity remains for residents to lodge objections by latest Friday 7th June 2013. Residents and homeowners of Mount Pleasant & Lovemore Heights are urged to lodge their objections before the next Human Settlements Meeting/Mayoral Meeting scheduled for mid-June 2013.

How To Raise An Objection – Send emails or letters to:

1. The City Manager: cm@mandelametro.gov.za or Executive Director: Human Settlements, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, PO Box 9, Port Elizabeth, 6000.
2. CC to Ms F Allie: fallie@mandelametro.gov.za or Property management Asst, Human Settlements Directorate, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, PO Box 9, Port Elizabeth, 6000.
3. BCC to Cllr for Ward 1, Stanford Slabbert: stanfordslabbert@telkomsa.net
4. Please remember to include the following in your objection letter: Town Planning Amendment 8297 : Rezoning Of Erf 8, Mount Pleasant Ref Cf34/00008.Your name, address, contact number

Examples of justifications for objections, feel free to use these or compile your own:

• The 24 units proposed will contribute to excess density (excessive number of units for an Erf of 1952 sqm)
• 24 units would have to be multi-story, thus blocking sunlight and obstructing views.
• Lovemore Heights has an existing problem with excess speeding vehicular traffic in all streets, including Greenways, Melsetter, Louise Michael and others.
• Lovemore Heights has an existing problem with excess water flowing off the hill as well as stormwater problems in Greenways.
• Buffelsfontein Road has never been upgraded. It is too narrow, has no kerbing, no storm water pipes and certainly no plans in the foreseeable future to be upgraded to cater for the increase in suburban development.
• Buffelsfontein Road has an existing problem with excess vehicular traffic, speeding and an illegal taxi rank.
• Condensing 24 units into this property may set an unacceptable precedent.
• Overcrowding.
• Inadequate parking.
• Original applications for Erfs 9 & 12, Mount Pleasant were previously turned down for excess density reasons.
• Devaluation of properties leading to financial loss to nearby residents.

Background:

1. Letter from Stanford Slabbert dated 1 October 2011
2. Letter from Stanford Slabbert to Mayor dated 3 June 2013

1 October 2011:

Dear Mrs Allie

TPA 8297: Rezoning – Erf 8, Mount Pleasant.

Your letter dated 13th September, 2011, refers. The owner wants to develop 24 sectional title units.

This property, Erf 8, Mount Pleasant, is situated at 55 Buffelsfontein Road, which is on the main arterial route and thoroughfare for residents from the Seaview and Chelsea areas.

This application raises many aspects of concern, and I must note the following:

• Buffelsfontein Road is a speeding hot-spot and there are numerous rear-end accidents as motorists wait to turn into properties along this stretch of narrow road.
• Storm-water from the Lovemore Heights hillside runs through these erven, creating major drainage and flooding issues. The existing storm-water system cannot cope, and this proposed complex will exceed more than 50% coverage of this erf, and with all the paved driveways, etc, it will exacerbate the sheet-water issues in this area.
• Blocked sewerage drains are a major problem in this area and the existing sewerage system cannot cope with the increasing demand. Adding another 48 toilets into an already overloaded system is just not possible or viable.
• Mount Pleasant is a residential suburb of mainly single storey dwellings and this proposed high density double-storey block will be out of character and unsightly, and it will infringe on the privacy of abutting neighbours. This will certainly result in the devaluation of nearby properties, thus resulting in a drop of revenue for the Metro.
• With so many proposed units on this 1900sqm erf, it will be impossible to also provide 48 parking bays for residents, plus additional bays for visitors, and this will congest the area alongside a very busy arterial route, which is in dire need of upgrading and widening.

This proposed development will be completely “out of character” for this area and it cannot be allowed to destroy this residential suburb. Accordingly, the application is not supported.

Please advise if any objections have been received, and the nature of these objections.

Kind Regards

3rd June, 2013:

Dear Mayor

Complaint re decision taken at recent Human Settlements Standing Committee.

The recent Human Settlements Standing Committee meeting, held on 24th May, 2013, refers.

Item 12 on page 75 of the Agenda referred to a Rezoning application for Erf 8, Mount Pleasant, situated at 55 Buffelsfontein Road. As the Ward 1 Councillor, I objected to the item and raised my concerns relating to the negative impact that this proposed development will have on this area.

Unfortunately, as so often happens at these H&L meetings, the ANC councillors, who do not know the specific area, and its problems and challenges, voted against the Ward councillors wishes and ignored my plea. The item was approved, with the ANC supporting it and the DA voted against it.

This item will now be placed before your Mayoral Committee, before it gets tabled at Council.

It is my plea to you, Sir, that my objections and reasoning be reconsidered. My original letter of objection is attached, dated 1st October, 2011. I will be happy to meet and discuss this matter with you, and we can also schedule a site visit, if you have the time.

Sir, local residents are also “up-in-arms” that this item was approved by the Human Settlements committee and I also enclose some of the letters of objection which have been received. Local residents are appalled and they have also started with a petition.

I must add that the owner, a Mr A. Williamson, allowed this property to degenerate into a total state of disrepair in the period February / May, 2011, to the extent that H&L officials served compliance notices on him to restore or demolish the property. It became a haven for vagrants and posed a health hazard to local residents. The owner only cleaned it up in April 2012, after showing complete disregard for the local community for over a year. This same person is now about to destroy the character of this area with this proposed development, and this cannot be allowed.

It is concerning to note that officials stated on the item that the address was 1 – 5 Buffelsfontein Road, whereas it is actually # 55 Buffelsfontein Road. It is quite possible that they were looking at another property when formulating the item, and this aspect needs to be investigated.

Sir, please consider all the facts as stated in this letter and the attachments, and I trust that your Mayoral Committee will do what is right for the local community, and refuse this application.

Please advise if you need further information.

Kind Regards

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Ward1

Werner Senekal is the caretaker councillor of Ward 1 in the Nelson Mandela Metro. Contact Werner on 041 583 1732 / 083 283 0410 / ward1[at]mandelametro.gov.za

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