Resident’s sceptical about rezoning of church
Community members have expressed their concerns with regards to the possible rezoning of the property which the God First Church stands on.
The Church has submitted a town planning application requesting the ‘Simultaneous Rezoning and Removal of Restrictive Conditions of Title’ of Erf 1/90; RE/90; 1/91 and RE/91 from ‘Residential 1’ to ‘Educational’.
A community meeting organised by the Parktown North Residents Association and the Parkhurst Residents Association was held at the Parkhurst Primary School Hall on 24 March to discuss any worries regarding the matter.
At the meeting, residents expressed that they were quite sceptical towards the Church’s need to rezone.
Parkhurst resident Justin Barley said he feared that rezoning was agreeing to drop restrictions.
Some residents appeared to already have their own personal issues with the running of the church, including the noise and influx of cars parking outside the church on Sundays.
However, resident Natalia Hay said she had lived in the area for the past 44 years and had no problem with the church itself or how it was run.
“Although, I do object to the place being rezoned and then in the future being rented out for wedding receptions and other functions that run late into the night,” she said.
Cheryll Labuschagne of the Parkhurst Resident’s Association, said although the church had no plans for development at the time, she believed most residents were more worried about what plans could develop once the rezoning was allowed.
In accordance, Parktown North resident Geraldine Erlank said the fear was not that the church had plans to develop right away but rather how much easier it would be to have plans for development approved when the restrictions of “Residential 1” were dropped in favour of the less limitated “Educational” zoning.
Chairperson of the Parktown North Residents Association, Lee-Ann Louverdis said residents could make objections to the City of Johannesburg.
Deadline for objecting to this application is 9 April 2014.
“Should you wish to lodge an objection to the application, please ensure that the objection is delivered, in duplicate, to the white community drop box at 24, 2nd Avenue, Parktown North by 6 April,” said Louverdis.
The objection may also be e-mailed to residents@parktownnorth.org, however, the objection letter must include a signature.
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