Uproar over church premises used for rental car storage
SUNNINGHILL - A showdown is looming between the Serbian Orthodox Church and residents of Sunninghill over the conversion of religious premises into a car rental facility.
General manager of Sunninghill Community Rob Kimmings wrote to concerned residents this week to update them about the matter. Kimmings announced in the letter that he had reported the matter to City of Johannesburg’s planning department.
“This has been brought to the attention of City planning. It appears that they have rented the land to a car company as a holding storage facility. The cars are delivered from East London. I have discussed this matter with the church and explained there is a process to follow and [they] need to probably apply for rezoning,” said Kimmings.
Concerned residents raised the alarm after noticing that the sweet choruses of worshiping were being replaced by the endless revving of car engines.
One resident, Murray Nitch, wrote to Kimmings asking for answers over the sudden switch of land use from religious to business purposes. “Can you please find out what is happening where the nursery used to be at the bottom of Tana Road, [it] is starting to look like a rental or used car lot,” said Nitch.
Kimmings told Fourways Review that he was still waiting for the council’s response.
Ward 93 Councillor Annette Deppe revealed to Fourways Review that the man of the cloth was in trouble with local authorities after the church failed to pay for services. “The pastor is trying to raise money by renting out parking space to a car renting company from East London. But this area is not a business zone,” said Deppe.
A parishioner, who spoke on behalf of the church and requested anonymity confirmed that there were cars parked at the church premises but added that they were waiting for City of Johannesburg to determine if there was any violation of zoning bylaws. He, however, said the church was not aware of any complaint from residents.
“We are expecting the council to tell us what the issue is, but we have never received anything from residents,” he said.
City of Johannesburg spokesman Virgil James had not yet responded to questions e-mailed to him by the time of going to print.
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