New development infuriates residents

Residents of Northwold Ext 8 will experience construction noise and traffic congestion until the end of February next year.

This is due to Northwold Junction shopping centre extending its premises, which some residents had vehemently objected to.

Despite these objections, the construction is going ahead as scheduled since the City Council has approved the amended building plans.

About three years ago, the owner of the Northwold Junction Shopping Centre purchased the property behind the centre, applied for the rezoning and decided to build a triple storey car park.

Pippa Wepener from Northwold Resident’s Association said residents were informed that for the car park to be built, about 200 cement trucks would be arriving at the suburb from July to August this year.

“Our concern is that there will be no houses, no roads, no gardens, in fact very little left by the time they have finished their development. We are also concerned about the amount of traffic that this development is going to create considering that CR Swart Drive, Drysdale and Elnita roads are already a nightmare,” she complained.

She further explained that the construction company was using a TLB construction vehicle to carry huge loads of soil out of the development onto the road to load onto the trucks as they fear the trucks will sink into the mud

“The fact that the adjacent property owners, still have not, to this day, seen development plans is a cause for concern. The neighbours are at a loss as to what to do next and everyday trucks arrive, the building continues, and no-one seems to care,” she said.

The architect and property owner’s representative, Bruce Mac, explained that the City restricted their initial building plans before they approved the development.

He further indicated that the car park was going to be a double storey and not the triple storey as it was initially planned.

“I’ve met with the residents and showed them our designs and the changes that were made. They have accepted the changes as we took the community into consideration. Only a few residents objected,” he said.

He further insisted that they have followed all the legal procedures and considered the residents’ complaints. “This development will substantially increase the value of properties in those suburbs,” he concluded.

The City of Joburg’s Basil Nkosi from the office of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for development planning, confirmed the City approved the development.

“The development was approved in terms of the zoning rights as well as the Site Development Plan,” concluded Nkosi.

Details: City of Joburg: 011 407 6461.

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