An application to rezone a property in Schaapkraal from rural (agriculture) to a general business is being opposed by the Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA) Food and Farming campaign.
The company, AR Steel World, submitted an application in November to the City of Cape Town’s planner, Donald Suttle, to build a warehouse and office on Erf 1939 in Schaap Road.
The campaign says too many developments have already been approved which among things, destroy the character of the farming area. Nazeer Sonday, chairperson of the PHA Food and Farming campaign, said they do not approve of the warehouse and office. “Developments continue all the time, but the City is not implementing by-laws as anyone can do as they like.”
Rashied Ebrahim, owner of Steel World, said: “We have two other branches in Athlone and Mitchell’s Plain and due to little space at our Athlone branch we would like to use the property as an office for my staff as well as a warehouse, where a truck load of stock will be delivered so once a week.”
The application stated: “Due to the high development in and around Schaapkraal area, the need for steel and steel supply and other materials has grown and is in great demand. Our pro-
jection of future development for the area justifies the proposed warehouse which will provide the steel necessary to
sustain such development. We propose the steel warehouse measuring ap-
proximately 1 600sqm on a property 8 400sqm which is currently zoned agriculture.”
Southern Mail visited the property and saw a mosque built on the right hand side and another structure on the left.
The neighbour who lives opposite the proposed development refused to comment on it.
However, Mr Sonday said with general business developments the area of small holdings will lose its character.
“We are okay with the mosque be-
cause it is a place of worship, but we are not in favour of the warehouse,” he
said.
The Steel World proposal also read: “With regards to the identified storm-
water problem, we intend to correct it adequately with filling of the developed area. With regards to access and parking, we provided entrance and exit driveways separately. Our parking has been calculated at one parking bay per 100sqm. We have provided 22 parking bays as indicated on the drawing.
Brett Herron, the City of Cape Town’s mayoral committee member for transport and urban development, said the outcome of a rezoning application is not determined by the number of objections received.
“The assessment of the application will only take place once the application is open for inspection at the City’s Development area office,” said Mr Herron.
The deadline for comment is January 18.
To view the proposal, visit the management area office in the Cape Flats: Ledger House, Corner of Aden Avenue and George Street. It is also available online at: http://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Forms
