Residents in Durbanville have launched a petition urging the City of Cape Town to reject or reconsider a major development proposal planned for the Durbanville Racecourse property, Cape {town} Etc reports.
Community members say the project, which involves land parcels known as Erven 458, 4627 and 4648, could dramatically reshape the area if approved in its current form.
Plans submitted to the city propose rezoning large sections of land currently classified as open space to allow residential and mixed-use development.
According to details outlined in the petition, the proposal could see roughly 980 residential units built on the property along with retail and office space.
The application also seeks to remove existing restrictive title deed conditions and amend parts of the Northern District Spatial Development Framework.
While residents say they are not opposed to development in principle, they argue the scale of the project raises serious concerns about infrastructure capacity, traffic congestion and the preservation of open space.
One of the major concerns highlighted relates to the strain the development could place on existing municipal services.
Estimates suggest the project could generate approximately 409 kilolitres of wastewater per day and require an additional 477 kilolitres of water daily.
Residents fear that infrastructure systems, including the nearby Fisantekraal Wastewater Treatment Works and surrounding networks, may not yet have the operational capacity to handle the increased demand.
They warn that approving development before infrastructure upgrades are completed could result in sewer overflows, reduced water pressure and more frequent service disruptions for existing households.
Traffic congestion is another major issue raised in the petition.
Residents say the development could lead to a significant rise in vehicle traffic affecting several surrounding roads, including Racecourse Road, St Johns Road, Bowlers Avenue, Queens Street and nearby residential routes such as Basson Street.
These roads already experience congestion during peak periods, particularly around school drop-off and pick-up times.
Community members believe the traffic mitigation plans currently presented are based on data that may already be outdated and are concerned that proposed solutions remain conceptual rather than guaranteed.
Another key concern relates to the loss of open space.
The racecourse land is currently designated as Structuring Open Space under the Northern District Spatial Development Framework adopted in 2023.
Residents say open spaces play an important role in environmental protection, stormwater management and maintaining the landscape character that has long defined the Durbanville area.
Rezoning the land for dense development, they argue, would permanently alter that planning framework.
The proposal also seeks to remove long-standing restrictive conditions in the property’s title deeds.
According to the petition, these restrictions were historically introduced to protect the area’s planning character and development expectations, and their removal could significantly expand the development rights attached to the land.
Residents further warn that the size and density of the project could affect the quality of life in nearby neighbourhoods.
Concerns include increased noise and lighting, reduced privacy for surrounding homes, more vehicles using residential streets and additional pressure on local parking and community services.
Policing resources have also been raised as an issue.
Petition supporters argue that thousands of additional residents could place further strain on local law enforcement, particularly as the South African Police Service already faces resource challenges relative to population size.
Through the petition, residents are asking the city either to refuse the development application outright or delay any approval until key concerns have been addressed.
They say approval should only be considered once infrastructure upgrades have been completed and independently verified, binding traffic solutions are in place, and the overall scale and density of the development have been reconsidered.
Community members are also calling for proper evaluation of open space protections and a broader review of the impact the development could have on services such as schools and policing.
The petition states that residents want development in the area to remain responsible, supported by adequate infrastructure and aligned with environmental sustainability and existing spatial planning policies.
Supporters say they are urging the City of Cape Town to carefully consider the long-term consequences of the proposal and prioritise the interests of current and future residents when making its decision.
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