Hotel causes headache
A proposed new luxury hotel and spa at 12 Hillel Road in Northcliff is causing concern to community members who fear the impact the hotel, spa and restaurant will have on the neighbourhood.
The proposed opening of a luxury hotel and spa at 12 Hillel Road is causing concern in the tight-knit community that lives in the tree-lined streets of Northcliff Hill.
Since Thami Ndlala bought the guesthouse a year ago, he said there have been complaints by some residents about his plans to launch a five-star hotel, spa and restaurant in the quiet suburb.
Ndlala claimed that he has invested R12m in the property on top of the purchase price because ‘Northcliff is underrated as a destination in Johannesburg and the hotel will improve property prices and add value to the area’.
He stands firm that all improvements to the property have been done legally.
The property is currently zoned as a residential bed-and-breakfast (B&B), Res1 with a town-planning application for rezoning to Res 4 to accommodate a hotel being evaluated.
The City of Johannesburg’s Development Planning Department has confirmed that a stop order, which forbids any further building from taking place, was issued on January 21 and a rates penalty was imposed on February 14. Both are still in place. The department also confirmed that ‘Plans were submitted on May, 5 which are being evaluated for additions and alterations under the current consent of a B&B’.
JMPD deputy director Mike Smith confirmed that ‘Many complaints have been received for by-law infringements. When investigations were conducted some were valid and some were found not to be justified’.
Smith, when asked about allegations that Ndlala bribed a JMPD officer, who came to investigate a complaint, said, “I am aware of the situation and have referred the individual to our internal affairs department. The matter is still under investigation.”
It remains to be seen if concerns about the anticipated negative impact the hotel will pose, such as increased traffic on the steep, winding and narrow road once the venue opens. Ndlala said he ‘hopes to open in the next month’ however, the usage of the property will still be restricted to the current zoning permissions as a bed and breakfast.
According to Northcliff resident and former town planner Justin Jones, “A rezoning application will take at least a year, if the process runs with no objections or hurdles.”
Ndlala stated that fears about noise pollution, traffic congestion, cars parking in the narrow road and all other worries will not materialise.
“He is operating with a build now, make legal later attitude,” said a neighbour who asked not to be named for fear of retaliation. The Northcliff Melville Times has been unable to secure any neighbours or community members who were prepared to be named as sources for the article.
“An unusually large number of objections to the proposed business rezoning were submitted by the community last month to the agent KIPD (Pty) Ltd and the city’s Department of Development Planning,” said Neil Ferguson from the Northcliff Residents Association. He also said they do not ‘condone the breaking of by-laws by any resident’.
The Northcliff Melville Times visited the site and saw much activity on the property in the form of alterations around the pool area, but was unable to confirm or refute whether any of it is in violation of the stop order.
Lerato Pretorius, a neighbour who is in support of the new hotel. said she would welcome the ‘additional security that will come with the exclusive venue and is not worried about potential noise as Ndlala is doing everything by the book and legally’.
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