This project should not be approved
2008-01-24
THE proposal to develop the property known as Kleinplasie at the top of Bosman Street in Paarl (Paarl Post of 17 January) is a serious attempt to undermine the long term efforts of Drakenstein Municipality in caring for, and protecting, our remaining natural heritage areas. This includes the strong possibility of further developments on the slopes of Paarl Mountain as a result of a precedent being set by the proposal to subdivide this property. Paarl Mountain is surely the focus of the Drakenstein Valley and is nationally and internationally recognised as a unique area in many regards, including both unique floral and geological aspects and an asset of immeasurable value to Paarl. The Municipality has already since about 1950 identified the need to protect Paarl Mountain and has consistently attempted to control development on the eastern slopes as part of the overall plan for town planning and nature conservation, as evidenced by the decision to stop all residential development above the then proposed “High Level Road”. The Urban Edge Plan was a further refinement developed to control appropriate economic, agricultural and residential development and to preserve open spaces (a natural green belt) and as a conservation tool. The Drakenstein Urban Edge document was finalised in April 2007 and has after extensive research and consultation (including community participation) set a clear “Long Term Urban Edge”. This edge is described as a tightly demarcated edge or “permanent edge” and the property in question (erf 3504) is outside the “Long Term Urban Edge”. Erf 3504 is zoned as agricultural except for a portion that was rezoned as General Residential subsone B in 1997 as a concession, to allow use of existing buildings as a guesthouse, but with specific conditions restricting any further development (it is in fact a smallholding and not an economic farm unit.) This rezoning followed an application for residential development of Kleinplasie in April 1997 that was turned down by the then Paarl Municipality. A second and third similar application was made in June 1999 and June 2003, but both were again turned down by the then Paarl and more recently by the Drakenstein Municipality. The developer appealed to the Provincial Authority against the decision of the Drakenstein Municipality in December of 1999 and April 2005, but both these appeals were dismissed as well. The report of 17 January states that there was a “lack of information” about the visual impact of the proposal. This seems most unlikely after three applications and two appeals having been worked through by both the applicant and the formal evaluating authorities and in fact refers to the process of the new NEMA legislation that structures the information in a different manner. All the relevant information has been duly considered by the various formal structures at municipal and provincial level according to the status of Paarl Mountain and to maintain the integrity of its slopes, as being the critical objectives again set out (and confirmed) in the latest relevant documents to protect our natural heritage. Paarl Mountain was proclaimed a Nature Reserve by Parliament in 1970. We are dependent on our natural environment as being both nationally and internationally recognised of paramount importance for our ultimate survival. As my erf is no 3511 in Bosman Street (that just falls within the urban edge), I do therefore also have a direct interest in opposing this proposed development, but as shown above, I agree with the objectives of the Drakenstein and provincial authorities on internationally acceptable nature conservation principles. AH van der Leek
More
News
|
