Makro’s fate at hand
MAGALIESSIG - Johannesburg city council's mayoral committee will decide if superstore opens in Magaliessig.

Another retail site plan could be found incompatible with the Fourways node, if residents and planners prevail against a Makro superstore application.
Objectors and Johannesburg city planners agree in their opposition against a Makro application to build a superstore in Magaliessig. The retailer seeks to extend the high density node up to the border of a residential suburb.
The zoning authority will announce the outcome of the three day hearing soon.
Makro, the applicants, argued that the Fourways node was zoned for mixed use, including residential and business use, similar to Fourways Mall, Fourways Crossing, Montecasino and other appliance and building stores. The retailer wanted the node extended to include its proposed superstore site.
Advocate Fanie Grobler, arguing for the Makro application, said it was common sense to extend the node to Leslie Avenue, which would be extended to link Witkoppen Road and William Nicol Drive. This development would bring the Makro site within the Fourways node.
Liana Strydom of the city’s planning department said the store would not contribute to the functionality of the area. “Fourways node is the worst performing node in terms of its functions and ease of access. Another value retailer was already proven incompatible with the high retail and high income node,” Strydom said.
The objectors’ attorney Patrick Mundell said the most intense development in the node should be at the core, and argued that Fourways Mall and Fourways Crossing development were centered at their core.
“The Makro site is on the periphery of a node and does not accord with the principle of scaling down of the node’s intensity towards the edge.”
Grobler said, “A node is primarily there to cluster activities. Growth of a node can not just be stunted by residents.” He denied the argument that the store would bring more traffic to the suburb and said more motorists would use the extended Leslie Avenue between Witkoppen Road and William Nicol Drive, despite the store.
To curb the problem of trucks parked in the street outside the store in the morning, Grobler said Makro would open the gates earlier to accommodate trucks in a holding facility on site.
Strydom argued for residents that another residential development or office park would be more effective land use, bring aesthetic appeal and more manageable traffic volumes.
The board’s decision, either for or against Marko, could be appealed by either party. The final decision will be made by the Johannesburg city council’s mayoral committee.