Questions have been raised over how the City of Cape Town granted approval for the construction of a two-storey ‘eyesore’.
|||Cape Town - A three-year spat over a Sea Point property has raised tension between neighbours, with accusations that a two-storey house being built is unsightly.
Questions have also been raised over how the City of Cape Town granted approval for the construction of the house.
Tania Wener, whose house borders the property on Ocean View Drive, says despite objections from several neighbours, plans for the house were passed before the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act came into force in 2013.
A Facebook page has been started, with some residents dubbing the construction an “eyesore”, with it being visible from the Sea Point beachfront.
Wener insists that her next-door neighbours had “used every single loophole” to get their plans approved, no departures have had to be passed and neighbours were not consulted.
While the property had been zoned as a single-dwelling residence, she said neighbours suspected down the line that there would be a request for it to be rezoned as sectional title units.
“They’re going to turn it into flats eventually. While the City of Cape Town encourages high-density dwellings, in this instance, its an extreme application,” said Wener.
She said neighbours were powerless to act against the construction as halting it would require a high court application, and residents did not have money for legal action.
The owner of the property, who wanted to remain anonymous, said her house was within the prescribed height allowed in the area’s zoning scheme, which is why no departures were required.
“I never realised what a struggle this is (to get the house constructed). It’s one neighbour who is complaining and I’m not even blocking her view,” she said, adding the spat had become personal, with the two of them no longer on speaking terms.
Mayco member for spatial planning Johan van der Merwe said due process was followed in approving the building plans in May 2013.
“Town planning policies and the zoning scheme prevailing at the time determined the urban form. When the City receives building applications, each submission is evaluated on its own merit, and in accordance with the provisions of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act, No 103 of 1977, and all other applicable laws.
“This building application was approved as it complied with all applicable legislation, and its development rights in terms of the then zoning scheme regulations.”
quinton.mtyala@inl.co.za
Cape Times