In 2015, ADA (PTY) LTD lodged an application for the establishment of a township on the farm known as Palmietfontein.
This was for a mixed-use development (residential high-density units, business offices, special, community, social services, public open spaces, streets and roads) and the developer was the Ekurhuleni Council.
This was for 3 687 units with a three-storey restriction.
In 2019, VZLR Attorneys were appointed to proclaim the township and open a township register (a process which is incomplete), and yet the council sought a consent application in late 2019 seeking to change certain conditions approved in the original township application.
According to the scoping report by Lokisa Environmental Consultants and Vigen Africa, a larger number of units were intended despite what was contained in the original application.
This report also stated the council intended to increase the height and unit requirements. The council did not lodge an application for four-storey walk-up units and a revised residential combination but merely applied for consent to amend the conditions.
This application needs an advert to be placed in the newspapers that are widely circulated in the affected areas.
This would have given the Ward 94 community time to lodge their objections/concerns, such as:
• The increased height/coverage creates an additional 871 units.
• The increased parking cannot be built to accommodate additional vehicles without intruding into areas designated for other uses. This necessitates a further traffic impact study and an additional environmental impact assessment.
• The Ward 94 community raised concern with regards to schools, sporting, health, policing, social and other related facilities. It is a fact that Ward 94 has an acute shortage of schooling facilities.
• Furthermore, the additional housing units will put an unmitigated strain on the road infrastructure as well as the concerns regarding the hazards associated with the dolomite.
The council’s original application was not amended and resubmitted with the aim of undercutting any potential objections by the Ward 94 community.
The Ward 94 community demand, among others, that no construction is to take place until the proper public participation process is restarted and properly concluded.
Ward 94 Palmietfontein Steering Committee
The RECORD requested comment from Ekurhuleni metro:
“There was no such application for an increase in densification. The Mayberry Park Extension Two layout approved on March 22, 2017, has a density of 3 947 residential four units,” said Themba Gadebe, metro spokesperson.
According to Gadebe, the parking ratio has been taken into account when the height relaxation was applied.
“The conditions of establishment states three-storeys. During design, it was discovered that with the three-storeys the density would not be achieved as approved. The height relaxation application was lodged to increase the height to four-storeys in order to meet the density as per the approved plan.
“The development plan has stands for both primary and secondary schools and other community facilities, which will be developed by the relevant departments that provide those services.
“The designs of services and the building has taken cognisance of dolomitic conditions. The construction taking place now is the bulk services. There are no buildings that will be constructed until all the approvals are obtained,” he concluded.
