A proposed development could see the construction of a new Rand Aid retirement village near the Glendower Golf Club.
If approved it will see the development constructed on the approximately 81 000m² sub-division on the south-western side of the site identified as the Remaining Extent of the farm Rietfontein 61 IR.
According to a traffic impact assessment done by Tech IQ Consulting Engineers, for the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE), the piece of land forms part of the Glendower Golf Club and is part of the former Rietfontein Farm.
The proposed retirement village will have a separate entrance adjacent to the golf club’s entrance. Access to the site will be from Boeing Road East via Marais Street.
In June the NEWS reported online that the NPO had purchased land from the golf club.
It is estimated that town planning formalities will take up to two years to finalise.
Zabeth Zuhlsdorff, general manager of Rand Aid’s services and advance division, said the 8.1 hectares was purchased for the development of an upmarket retirement village.
“Rand Aid plans to develop 120 units which will be sold on a life-rights basis to persons 65 years and older.”
She said it will be a low density and low impact development.
“The architectural style will be sympathetic to the golf course and surrounding areas with low-pitched roofs and extensive landscaping. Because this development targets retired persons 65 years and older it is unlikely that the development will have a negative impact on traffic in the area.”
Ward 19 Clr Bill Rundle told the NEWS the application was recently officially lodged with the CoE.
It was submitted by town planners on August 23 and circulated among the CoE’s departments and the ward councillor for comment.
Public participation for the development started on September 25 and will end on October 23.
“Community members, residents and interested and affected parties have 28 days to raise comments/objection about the project.”
“If there are objections, the matter will go to a tribunal where the developers [The RA Welfare Development Trust], Rand Aid, residents and interested and affected parties will have an opportunity to comment on the matter,” said Rundle.
Rundle said depending on the points raised at the tribunal the project could either go ahead, may need to be revised or might not proceed at all.
In the scope of the assessment it was stated that “CoE indicated a full traffic impact study was not required due to the low-trip generation of the proposed development”.
Because of the low-trip generation, it is believed the traffic impact on the road network will be limited, hence a full traffic impact assessment is not required in terms of the South African Traffic Impact Assessment Manual.
Roads which the assessment focused its impact study on included the intersection of Marais Road and Fairway Avenue and the remainder of Marais Road.
Rundle, who is concerned about the development’s impact on traffic, believes Penhurst Avenue should have been included.
He said if Marais Road becomes congested with traffic he believes residents of the development will make use of Penhurst Avenue, which was not included in the assessment.
“If the project is approved then the area could have an additional 120 cars in the area at the minimum.
“If motorists were to make use of the Penhurst Avenue access point, it could cause congestion along the road under the N3 highway which joins Boeing Road East and Civin Drive.”
To raise concerns or objections send an email to peter@practicegroup.co.za
Alternatively, hand-deliver concerns and/or objections at a CoE City Planning office.
A request for comment was sent to CoE on September 18 requesting comment by September 20 at noon.
At the time of going to print no comment was received.
