Sea Point residents are up in arms after the City of Cape Town Municipal Planning Tribunal approved the construction of a 18-storey high-rise in an area zoned for a maximum of nine storeys despite a huge number of public objections.
Locals living in the area reportedly plan to challenge the decision made by the Municipal Planning Tribunal last week. The planned building is part of a social housing plan that will cater to inclusionary housing in the new high-rise development.
The Sea Point, Fresnaye and Bantry Bay Ratepayers and Residents’ Association will be holding a meeting today to discuss the way forward and will announce their plans to oppose on Tuesday.
The tribunal for the North West District approved a land-use application for the skyscraper on Kloof Street, Sea Point developed by the Berman Brothers Group, with an order that inclusionary housing be part of the development.
The proposal was arranged to reserve 20% of the 140 flats for “affordable” living.
“I am disappointed that the Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT) has today approved the application for planning departures for an 18-storey building to be erected at 15 Kloof Street, Sea Point.
The application received numerous objections from residents, ratepayers associations and the previous Ward Councillor. The departmental report on the application also stated without ambiguity that the application for departures should be refused.
The MPT has overturned the department decision on the matter and we need to urgently be advised as to the rationale for this. I will be petitioning the Mayco member Marian Nieuwoudt as well as the Executive Mayor Dan Plato to investigate and will support an appeal on this decision,” said Nicola Jowell, elected councillor for the Atlantic Seaboard.
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