Ratepayers appeal court’s approval of Camps Bay hotel construction

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17-09-2024
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Cape Town Etc
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The Camps Bay and Clifton Ratepayers Association (CBCRA) has applied to appeal a decision made by the Western Cape High Court which would allow for a five-star hotel to be built along Victoria Road on Erf 3349, Cape {town} Etc reports.

Erf 3349 was the former home of the Place of the Bay Hotel.

In total, 90 residents have logged complaints against the City of Cape Town’s planners, as they felt that their pleas were ignored last month, according to a post made by the CBCRA’s website.

The hotel was designed by Scott + Partners in collaboration with the hotel group Novis Hotel.

Eddie Andrews, the City’s deputy mayor and Mayco member for Spatial Planning and Environment, stated that the application had ‘no irregularities and that they were happy with the court’s decision’, as reported by IOL.

‘The application was assessed in terms of the requirements of the Municipal Planning By-Law and relevant City policies and was accordingly recommended for approval,’ said Andrews.

Chris Willemse, CBCRA chairperson, said the community of Camps Bay was opposed to the development of the hotel, as it would take away from the area’s ‘natural beauty’.

‘Not because it is a hotel but because of the excessive departures and concessions that the developer received from the City […] Camps Bay has a strict Special Area rule to prevent the beachfront from becoming like Sea Point, or any other high-rise area – no more than three floors and not higher than 10m,’ said Willemse.

‘The City granted planning permission for five floors and a 15 metre height. The lack of parking was also a major concern […] This is clearly unacceptable and appears to indicate the extremely close relationship between the City and the development industry, whilst sidelining the ratepayers and residents of Cape Town,’ Willemse added.

Willemse said the community felt as though their voices were ‘not being heard’.

He added that they were ‘disappointed with the judgment’, which only accepted the City’s version of events, as well as agreeing that ratepayer organisations and affected property owners don’t have a say over what the City decides to ‘allow in their neighbourhoods in which they pay rates and taxes’.

‘Not even if the planning permission far exceeds what is allowed by the planning by-laws […] This simply cannot be right and the dictatorial approach of the City must be challenged for the sake of every area and property owner in the metropolitan area,’ said Willemse.

‘If this is allowed to stand, then the natural beauty of the Camps Bay beachfront will be lost to a concrete jungle. This beachfront attracts hundreds of thousands of local and foreign visitors, who enjoy the synergy between the natural environment and the relatively low level built environment,’ Willemse added.

In the mean time, Scott + Partners has stated that all plans were compliant and approved by the City, while Novis said that the development would serve as a financial advantage to the area.