Ward 102 councillor David Potter has a theory about what happened to the objection letters sent to the municipality and town planners about 232 on Kent in 2020, though he would also like to know why those sent since have not been responded to.
As reported in the Randburg Sun article, What became of our objections? in the edition week ending April 7, more than 60 Ferndale residents signed objection letters to the complex being built on Kent Avenue three years back, and some have submitted follow-up emails, but these only in the last few months.
Also read: https://www.citizen.co.za/randburg-sun/463894/residents-oppose-development/
They feel the infrastructure in the area is already insufficient and will not cope with more people; there are not enough amenities and no schools within 2km of the complex as required by the nodal plan.
These residents have been writing objection letters since 2020, though the developers and town planners say they were never received.
Potter believes he knows how this could have happened.
“One of the objectors sent an objection file on December 16, 2020 to the city. The file was 19Mb and I suspect was not received by the mailbox for the planning objections email address. The city confirmed in a formal response to my office that they never received the objection email,” the ward councillor said.
“This is unfortunate for the residents and objectors. It further reinforces the need for objectors to send the objections to the city and the applicant, and make regular follow ups with both parties. This specific application aside, it is critical for property owners to look out for land use application notices which are required by law to be displayed on the property wall for 21 of days, and to also regularly check the City of Joburg website for land use applications. Residents are encouraged to comment and/or object to all and any land use applications.”
Furthermore, the city has not always delivered notification of land use applications to ward councillors timeously, and some not at all, Potter said.
“The city now emails them, as opposed to before Covid-19, which frustratingly remains hit and miss. I have been the lead ward councillor in getting the City of Joburg to publish land use applications on their website in an effort for the city to be transparent and have the information more accessible to the public. This is also hit and miss, with the applications also only being loaded once a month. I will continue to engage with the City of Joburg to request that the land use applications are uploaded more regularly.”
Potter said more applications are being made for residential developments in Ferndale and Blairgowrie than there were in the past.
“Objectors should follow up with the city and the applicant, attend any and all tribunal hearings, and follow through to beyond the appeal process if warranted. The objection process is not without serious administrative and other flaws – such as the Municipal Planning Tribunal not being independent (the current panel consists 100% of city officials or city entity officials).”
Questions were sent to City of Johannesburg spokesperson Dudu Lushaba on April 3 regarding whether the objections had ever been presented to the town planners and if not, why not; if it is too late for a municipal planning tribunal hearing and what residents can do now the rezoning is completed and construction has commenced.
Follow-up emails were sent to her since, but no comment was received by the time of going to print.
Related Article:
Development on Kent Avenue in Ferndale receives over 60 objections, still goes ahead
