ICYMI: MAF to arrange public participation meeting concerning development
MAGALIESSIG – MAF chairman Mary Hanna said that residents calling for a legitimate development to be unconditionally stopped are irrational.
The Magaliessig Action Forum (MAF) has added their voice to concerns regarding the proposed four-storey complex containing 291 units by Craft Homes on portion 178 of the Farm Witkoppen.
The Review wrote about concerns from two residents and comments from the developer in the article, Concern for sanctuary [Week ending 31 July].
MAF chairman Mary Hanna said that residents calling for a legitimate development to be unconditionally stopped are irrational. “Taking emotional issues out of the equation, residents need to grasp the reality that vacant ground in a popular development node such as Fourways is going to be developed as is the legal commercial right of the purchaser/owner and in this particular instance, the ground is zoned for ‘residential’ and is being developed for exactly that purpose,” said Hanna.
She suggested that residents taking issue with the development should raise their concerns with MAF so that they can be addressed in a coordinated manner via the correct channels.
Hanna said that a number of residents are concerned about the preservation of the Heilbrunnen Bird Sanctuary and the adjacent wetlands as well as the intrusion into the privacy of residents of a nearby residential estate.
“The developers have made public significant plans to preserve the wetlands and the bird sanctuary and have taken careful note of the concerns and fears of residents.”
Hanna said that according to the tabled Environmental Assessment Report, the wetlands and bird sanctuary are going to be rehabilitated and enhanced at the developer’s expense.
“MAF has already stated that such rehabilitation will require the involvement of suitably qualified ecological and environmental experts to oversee the rehabilitation project and to supervise the aspect of construction as it might affect the wetlands further up from the bird sanctuary. This will be closely monitored by MAF to ensure no ecological damage ensues in the process.”
She explained that the argument that the dam will be sacrificed for the sake of the development is inaccurate since the dam has been silted and polluted by repeated sewage spills. According to Hanna, the dam will be rejuvenated and enhanced considerably as a result of the development.
MAF has sympathy for residents who will experience privacy invasion and have planned a discussion with the developer in this regard.
Hanna said the proposed height and densification of the development is not an issue, since this is necessary – given the cost of the land and the legislated requirements of inclusionary housing imposed on developers.
MAF does not, however, approve of the overall aesthetics of the building, which will also be a point of discussion with the architect and developer.
She noted that the current phase of development looks specifically at the ecological aspects of the development and is not the phase in which residents should raise issues concerning sewage, water, densification etc. as these will be dealt with in the next phase.
MAF holds the view that the quicker development takes place on the ground in question, the better, since densification issues of inclusionary housing are going to escalate as time passes.
“The primary function of MAF in relation to vacant ground is not to object to its development per se, but to negotiate and monitor the outcomes to ensure the least negative implications for Magaliessig as a whole and nearby residential infrastructure specifically.”
MAF is going to arrange a public participation meeting when the lockdown regulations permit.
Senior environmental consultant at Seaton Environmental Brian Gardner, representing the developer, responded to questions from the Fourways Review.
Gardner said the proposed rehabilitation system would have a positive impact on the wetland and dam. He added that the sensitive parts of the site were being kept as open space within the development, for recreational use by residents of the development. He said the density was in line with City policy and that it had been approved by Joburg Water.
