However, in August, the Department of Development Planning approved an application for another restaurant on this busy road.
City council spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane initially said a land use development management policy had been amended to “exclude any further restaurant rights in the area, mainly due to the lack of parking space” (Gazette week ending, 26 July).
Explaining the apparent about-turn, Modingoane said the recent application was approved for a site (the remainder of erf 285 Parktown North) that “already enjoyed non-residential rights and was approved with very strict development controls”.
“These controls included, among others, full on-site non-relaxable parking, that the amenity of the area shall not be disturbed, that no live or amplified entertainment shall be allowed in the restaurant, and that all activities related to the restaurant shall be contained within the building,” he said.
Ward councillor Tim Truluck and Parktown North Ratepayers and Residents Association chairperson Lee-Ann Louverdis said they suspected the approval had been granted as the Regional Spatial Development Framework for the suburb had not been updated.
Modingoane said, in response to this reporter’s enquiries, that the Regional Spatial Development Framework was only one of the tools used in the consideration of the approval of any application.
“While the policy objective for the sub area has… not been updated or amended, it was not the sole reason for the approval. Site-specific merit played a huge role in the decision,” he said.
He added that the Regional Spatial Development Framework would be amended within the next review cycle, and that the city council’s stance was to limit further approvals for restaurants on 7th Avenue.
Louverdis, on behalf of residents, expressed disappointment at the city council’s approval of the restaurant.
“This is especially displeasing, as the residents association had valid objections to the application. The approval will exacerbate the already problematic parking issue and noise pollution,” she said.
