The draft integrated Spatial Development Frameworks (SDFs) and Environmental Management Frameworks (EMFs) for the eight planning districts across Cape Town are available for public comment until Sunday June 6.
Residents are invited to attend open day sessions where they can ask officials questions.
The draft district SDFs and EMFs set the planning and spatial vision for the City’s eight planning districts, namely: Table Bay; Blaauwberg; Southern; Northern; Cape Flats; Helderberg; Tygerberg; Mitchell’s Plain, Khayelitsha and Greater Blue Downs.
What are the district SDFs about? The draft district SDFs entail the City of Cape Town’s response to managing urban growth on a district level and in a manner that is sustainable, resilient, and equitable. It determines how the City should intervene on a local planning level to mitigate against constraints, and to enhance opportunities that will improve residents’ quality of living.
The plans also focus on the nature and location of development on a local level to promote economic growth and job creation. It will guide the City’s decisions on how and where the private sector and public sector can and should pursue developments; how land should be used; and where we should protect our natural environment and resources to become more resilient to climate change and other shocks, prevent urban sprawl, but also ensure that we direct our resources to vulnerable communities.
Once approved by the City Council, the district SDFs and EMFs will guide future decisions about developments, land uses, and interventions to create integrated and inclusive communities across Cape Town.
The review of the City’s spatial development frameworks started in 2019, and is based on the Baseline and Analysis Report (BaAR) for each district.
The BaARs were updated over the past months with the latest available information about the state of the population, environment, development, economy and property market in the planning districts, inclusive of the challenges, needs and opportunities on a local planning level.
The BaARs, as well as ideas for an implementation plan, will also be available for viewing at the open days.
The draft integrated district SDFs and EMFs also contain a proposal for an Environment Management Instrument that sets out the rules for developments within the boundaries of Atlantis that are proposed to be excluded from the need to obtain environmental authorisation, and for the proposed area to be adopted as a National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) Urban Area.
A separate but related report, the draft Coastal Economic and Spatial Framework (CESF) that sets out recommendations for dealing with our sensitive coastline, is also available for public comment during this time.
The draft framework and supporting presentation are also available for download from the City’s website.
The draft integrated district SDFs and EMFs are available on the City’s website.
The open day meetings for the greater Blaauwberg area and surrounding communities will take place as follows:
– Thursday April 22, Atlantic Beach Golf Estate, the Links Room, Birkenhead Road Melkbosstrand, (just off the R27), from 5.30pm to 8pm.
– Wednesday April 28, Milnerton Council Chambers, Bridle Way, Milnerton, from 6pm to 9pm.
More meetings will be hosted, and the details of these will be announced in due course, on the City’s website.
At the open days, residents will have the opportunity to view the plans, and to ask City officials questions. Health and safety protocols related to Covid-19 will be imposed, and attendees are reminded to wear masks that cover the nose and mouth, practice social distancing, and to sanitise or wash their hands.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the City is also providing alternative platforms for the public to participate.
A recorded presentation and documents for each district will be uploaded on the City’s website. The public is encouraged to watch the presentation and read the documents at home, and to send your comments via email, or to submit these online.
Should you have questions about the documents, there are three ways to ask them:
· send an email – see the relevant email addresses below
· attend the open house meetings in person
· attend the online meetings in May, the details will be announced by the end of April.
