Craigpark Residents Association chairperson Ryan Roseveare writes in response to Developer hits back at residents:
The Craigpark Residents Association would like to draw attention to several inaccuracies in the article.
The developer omits that he started construction in November 2012 without an approved Site Development Plan nor any approved building plans. The latter were only submitted to the city council on 20 August 2013.
During that extended period, the city council issued a stop order in February. Despite this, construction work did not stop. The association was forced to approach the High Court, and obtained an interdict, asking Stuart Grant, Helm Construction and the city council that construction work cease immediately.
The association and other parties met with Grant in December 2012 and on at least two other occasions. Those at the December meeting indicated they did not want Grant to dump his excavated soil on the wetlands in Hugh Wyndham Park, which the association and City Parks nurtured over the last few years.
From the information we have received, the proposed office block is in effect a 23-metre-high five storey building with well over 200 parking bays, and not a 17 metre-high building.
We repeatedly asked the city council and Grant for a Traffic Impact Study, but no information was provided. All users of Bompas Road will know that, particularly at peak hours, the norm is traffic congestion.
Regarding the increase of property prices in Parkhurst and Sandton due to densification in those areas, the association is unaware of five storey buildings in the middle of Parkhurst or residences in the middle of Sandton. Area specialist estate agents confirmed the surrounding residential property values will be negatively affected.
From information received from the city council, the town planning department in 2009 allowed access only from Bompas Road. Our legal team believes this is still in force, so Grant will have to apply for a re-zoning permit if access is to be obtained off North Road.
After extensive consultation with affected residents and professionals including legal and town planning experts, we remain convinced that an office block of the proposed height, size and coverage is inappropriate right next to a residential area situated in the Craigpark ridge.
