PARKHURST – Residents are up in arms following an application by Shell South Africa Marketing to rezone a residential premises adjacent to the 6th Street garage.
According to the application, “Shell is the owner of the property [and] want to use that property for a quick service restaurant”.
The reaction of residents was swift and angry.
Parkhurst Residents and Business Owners Association member Bridget Steer said the proposed rezoning from Residential 1, with limited development rights, to Business 1, which was mostly unrestricted and could allow for all manner of shops, could have a highly detrimental effect on the area.
Steer added that the petrol giant had also applied to consolidate the erf in question with the erven on which the garage was built.
Ward councillor Tim Truluck objected to the application, and described it as the “most shoddily prepared” rezoning application he had seen since becoming a ward councillor.
“They make no reference to the Spatial Development Framework for this sub-region and no mention of Parkhurst’s own Regional Spatial Development Framework,” he said.
“It’s clear that, in terms of these documents that inform and guide developers as to what is desirable in Parkhurst, that the location of a fast food restaurant in 5th Street, which is primarily residential, cannot be allowed.”
Truluck said the documents only made allowance for restaurants in 4th Avenue between 5th and 14th Streets.
“Even then, there are severe restrictions on restaurants located in old houses. I think it despicable that Shell think they can ride roughshod over residents and the Johannesburg town planning guidelines,” he said.
Apart from the possibility of increased traffic volumes, noise and light pollution in a residential street, also of concern to residents is the existing house.
According to Johannesburg Heritage Foundation’s Flo Bird, who also objected to the application, the house, designed in 1933 by important Johannesburg architect Israel Wayburne, was protected by the National Heritage Resources Act.
Shell spokesperson Dineo Pooe confirmed Shell South Africa had applied for the rezoning.
“We have plans to combine both properties to enhance its value proposition to the local community and customers in the surrounding area,” she said.
“Our customers and the communities we operate in are at the centre of all our operations, and we will minimise any possible inconvenience to them.”
Read The Gazette‘s report on Shell’s response here.
Residents have until 26 November to object to the application in writing.
Send objections, with reference to erf 1997 Parkhurst, to the City of Johannesburg, Development Planning, Transportation and Environment, PO Box 30733, Braamfontein, 2017.
Details: savefifthstreetparkhurst@gmail.com
