The Sunnydale Ratepayers’ Association (SRA) is appealing approval for a four-storey development off Kommetjie Road in Sunnydale.
The 2022 land-use application for a commercial and residential building with 191 flats of about 50m² each and 4949m² of commercial floor space was approved by the Municipal Planning Tribunal in March, according to mayoral committee member for spatial planning and environment Eddie Andrews.
The application was for the consolidation and rezoning of 22 and 24 Kommetjie Road (erven 5016 and 5017) from rural to mixed-use (MU2) as well as consent in terms of title deed restrictions for Erf 5017 to permit flats and business premises, and for a departure relating to the on-site parking requirements.
The primary uses for MU2 include business premises, a dwelling, a second dwelling and flats among others, and consent uses include an adult shop, an expo centre, informal trading and a helicopter landing pad among others.
The maximum height of a building, measured from base level to the top of the roof, is 25 metres.
SRA chairman Chris Dooner said that while the association was in favour of the development, it was appealing the rezoning to MU2 and the parking departures.
The association, he said, favoured rezoning to MU1 with a 15m height restriction.
“Most other buildings in the area are three storeys,” he said.
He said the number of parking bays had been significantly reduced with the idea that during working hours, commercial users could use the parking bays of the flats and after hours, residents of the flats could use the commercial parking bays.
No provision had been made for delivery trucks and the association believed that future growth of vehicle ownership had not been taken into account, he said.
According to the application, the proposed development will comprise 38 flats on the ground floor, 56 on the first floor, 77 on the second floor, and 20 on the first floor.
Mr Andrews said no building plans had been submitted or approved due to the appeal.
The approval of the application did not guarantee approval of any related building plan application in terms of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, he said.
The owner of the properties, Robin Booth, confirmed that the approval was subject to an appeal and he advised the Echo to check back in a few months to see if the rezoning had been finalised.
The properties, formerly part of a remainder of portion 3 of the farm Poespaskraal, are located on the corner of Kommetjie Road and Fish Eagle Place opposite Fish Eagle Park and abut the only other entrance to Masiphumelele.
According to the Municipal Planning Tribunal report, the application was approved as the proposal complies with the municipal spatial development framework, the southern district plan, the densification policy, the urban design policy and the management of urban stormwater impacts policy, and supports the inclusive economic growth strategy.
The report stated that the proposal will have a positive socio-economic impact in providing an increased range of residential and commercial options to serve a wide range of income levels and living needs.
