Farm to be subdivided for housing
2005-05-12
Anne Kruger
THE first major residential subdivision in many years in Paarl is due to take place soon in Noorder Paarl and will allow for the future extension of Berg River Boulevard to School Street.
An application for the subdivision of part of the farm Honeydew at the bottom end of Koning Street has been submitted to Drakenstein Municipality.
It is to be subdivided into 287 erven for development. This may relieve the dire shortage of residential properties in the area.
The farm of 18 hectares is located on the bank of the Berg River between Aandblom, Sterretjie and Boegoe Street and is the property of the Borel-Saladin family.
According to Laurent Borel-Saladin, the family will handle the initial phases of the development themselves.
It includes a black empowerment component, as four families currently working on the farm, will become co-owners of the remaining agricultural section of the farm.
“We love this land and want to develop it in a way which will enhance the area and retain some of the agricultural flavour.
“We are not just going to slap up a wall around the farm - the external fringe of erven will be single residential erven fronting onto the neighbouring streets.”
Several consultants were approached to submit design proposals, of which one was selected.
“We liked the proposal by Andrew Horn of D’Arc consulting, who was also instrumental in the development of the Santé Winelands hotel and estate.
His plan makes good use of the topography of the land, which slopes down to the Berg River.
“There will be three topographical zones: we will start with the upper plateau nearer Main Street, which will consist of larger erven up to 1300 square metres.
“The lower terrace along the Berg River will be developed at a later stage and will have a higher density within security and retirement complexes.”
The sloping area between the two sections will be retained for farming activities.
The table grape vineyards will be replanted with wine grapes and a farm shed will be converted into a boutique maturation cellar, with a farm stall as well as housing for the farmworkers nearby.
The Farm Workers Trust will have a majority shareholding in the agricultural operation, said Maria Floris, manageress of the farm, and they would be applying for government grants to fund the redevelopment of the vineyards and cellar.
“Although the agricultural section will only be three hectares, it will be viable because it will still be farmed in conjunction with two farms in Wellington, Roodezandt and Sanddrift,” Floris said.
A total of 45 workers on the three farms controlled by the Borel-Saladin family will be beneficiaries of the farm workers trust, which plans to market their handcrafted boutique wines in line with the European “fair trade” equity incentives.
Business and restaurant premises of three hectares on the river bank may be developed later, once the Berg River Boulevard has been extended northwards.
The farm is zoned predominantly for single residential purposes and there are no title deed restrictions upon its development.
The property is not subject to the provisions of the subdivision of agricultural land act (no 70 of 1970) and is reserved for urban purposes in terms of the approved urban structure plan for Paarl and Wellington area.
“We want the development to cater for Paarl residents, and income groups not catered for with recent developments on the outskirts of Paarl.
“The subdivision is not linked to the property boom - it’s what we have planned since we bought Honeydew 20 years ago.
“We have always paid full rates and taxes on the land, without any rebate for agricultural purposes,” says Laurent.
“There will be a managed release of property and architectural guidelines - prospective buyers will be required to submit their plans to us.”
Comments must be submitted to the municipal manager by 6 June.
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