A Parow neighbourhood is vowing to fight plans for a townhouse development.
Twenty seven residents near Bach Street have objected to having six double-storey townhouses built in the area.
The City received an application last month to rezone 14 Bach Street, Kaapzicht, from single residential to general residential to make way for the townhouses and 12 parking bays on the 861m2 plot.
Area north Mayco member Suzette Little said the Municipal Planning Tribunal would decide on whether objections to the plan had merit.
Bach Street resident Wayne Isaacs said he was notified about the development two weeks ago.
“We, as residents, are completely opposed to the development. It will definitely have a negative impact on the community,” he said.
“I think the development is probably going to be a duplex with each unit having their own outside garden,” he said.
Dr Johan Neethling, who has lived in Bach Street for more than 40 years, held a meeting on Monday March 12, which 27 people attended. All of them had objected to the development, he said.
“I am, one of the longest residing residents in this area, and when I first moved, in here, this was a peaceful residential area. In 2005 various plots along Uys Krige Drive were rezoned for business use.”
He said that more than 15 years later there were about 17 businesses along a 110m stretch of Uys Krige Drive from the robots at the intersection with Giel Basson Drive to the corner of Bach Street.
Town planner Kobus Scott, of Pro-Konsort Town Planners, said he had lodged the application on behalf of Roger Carpenter, the property’s owner.
“If objections are received, we will then approach the Appeals Authority if our development is not given the green light,” he said.
He couldn’t say how much the development would cost but said they could start construction in six months.
Dr Neethling said the townhouses would cost some residents their views and cause more traffic congestion.
“Exiting and entering Bach Street during peak times is going to be a nightmare. Traffic volumes will definitely increase.
“Our concerns are: who is going to buy those properties? We are worried about crime increasing; also we are concerned about our property prices decreasing and the safety of our children.”
Dr Neethling said residents had raised money to install six licence-plate-recognition cameras in the area as an anti-crime measure. “The cameras helped police with information about an abduction that took place in the area and also helped to foil robberies in the community,” he said.
He said he had dropped off the 27 objections at the Parow administration building before the closing date on Friday March 30.
Mr Carpenter, of Abode Properties, was surprised to learn of the objections.
“I disagree that their view of the area would be obstructed as all erven have double-storey rights. I also don’t understand how these upscale townhouses will contribute to crime in the area. Rather, I think it will add to the area and not detract from it.
“It would also not make sense for me, as a property developer, to build entry-level townhouses,” he said.
Mr Carpenter said the townhouses would be sold for between “R2.3 million and R2.4 million”.
Residents would park inside the townhouse complex and there would be two parking bays a unit. “So it, will in no way add to traffic congestion in the area.”
* To object or learn more about the development, send an email to comment_objections.tygerberg@capetown.gov.za