God First Church applies for rezoning of property
God First Church in Parkhurst 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’.
The Memorandum in support of the application states that “the intention of the application is to formalise the rights for a church on the site which to date has operated with a consent use for a church, manse and guest house”.
At a community meeting organised by the Parktown North Residents Association and the Parkhurst Residents Association held at the Parkhurst Primary School Hall on 24 March, Pastor Greg Tait of God First and independent town planner Steve Baylis, was asked to justify the Church’s need to change its zoning.
Baylis and Tait explained that there was no underhanded reasoning for the change as some people may believe.
Baylis said the four properties which stand next to each other, including the church, currently, could not be used as one entity and that this was one of the main reasons for the change.
“With the rezoning, the properties will be consolidated to form one site with a common zoning,” he explained.
Tait adamantly said that the Church had no plans, as yet, to develop on either of the properties or “host rock concerts” but, did suggest that extramural activities such as ballet and karate for children could be hosted at the church once the rezoning was approved.
Many Parktown and Parkhurst residents, including Nikki Behrens have questioned the church about their choice to rezone to “Educational”.
Noting the concerns of many residents, the chairperson of the Parktown North Residents Association, Lee-Ann Louverdis suggested the church look over the limitations and restrictions that they had initially proposed in the application and perhaps change the wording so as to reassure their neighbours of their intentions.
See the Town Planning Application, the Site Development Plan, a letter from a concerned Parkhurst Resident, the reply from Godfirst Church and a letter from their town planners.
Click here to view the PDF of the memorandum.
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Click here to read the reaction from the residents.
