Ratepayers’ body spearheads housing appeals

OVER 100 Yellowwood Park residents attended a special public meeting held at Yellowwood Park Civic Hall on Wednesday, 6 May to appeal the Yellowwood Park Christian Fellowship (YWPCF) development.

The meeting to discuss appeal comes after eThekwini council approved YWPCF’s proposed development of 130 residential units in April on its premises at Quail Road.
During the objections process, 177 Yellowwood Park residents came forward to give comment on the proposed development. YWPRA will now lodge an appeal to the KZN Development Tribunal on behalf of the 177 objectors to stop the development going ahead.

Only those 177 objectors may appeal the development. Objectors may lodge an appeal on their own. The objectors have 28 days from the date of notification from council with which to appeal.
Chairman of the YWPRA Gavin Hegter is heading the appeal process. “Nobody is opposed to development, but the nature of YWP as it is now needs to be taken into account. High density development for this area is concerning,” said Hegter.

Speaking at Wednesday night’s meeting, ward 64 councillor Billie Prinsloo said: “If we want to continue being a park and keep the nature around us, this is our last chance to stop this development, and stop it we must,” she said.
Prinsloo added that the sports fields at YWPCF act as a water catchment for the area where water runs into the wetlands at Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve. “It’s up to the people of the area to not let this go ahead. We must do everything we can,” she said.

Only 50 residents have collected their objection letters. The ward councillor calls on those who didn’t receive objection letter or letters notifying them of a right to appeal, to contact her office on 031-462-9584.
Any of the 177 objectors who didn’t attend the special meeting on Wednesday night must contact Gavin Hegter to ensure a smooth appeal process. Email Gavin at gavin.hegter@gmail.com.