The City of Cape Town has completed the first round of public engagements on the review of the spatial development frameworks which will guide development decisions in future. Over 1 000 residents attended 30 meetings that covered all corners of the city.

The City started with the review process in November last year with 30 meetings held across Cape Town from Strand to Kraaifontein, Bellville to Khayelitsha, Dunoon to Mitchells Plain, Fish Hoek to Hout Bay, and beyond.

The last meeting took place in Mfuleni last week, which concluded the first phase of the review process.

‘We are still counting, but early indications are that over a thousand residents attended the meetings. I would like to thank all of those who attended and for being part of history in the making. Our intention was to reach out to as many residents as possible, and the turnout confirmed that residents want to be involved in shaping the spatial vision for their neighbourhoods, and that they are eager to tell us about their challenges, needs, and priorities insofar as it relates to planning in their local areas,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.

The review of the SDFs will be based on the Baseline and Analysis Report (BaAR) for each district, inclusive of the challenges, needs, and opportunities on a local planning level.

These baseline assessments contain the latest available information about the state of the population, employment levels and income; the state of the urban and natural environment and heritage; state of development; the supply of and demand for housing; local economy; property market; and current services and infrastructure in each planning district.

During this first round of public meetings residents had the opportunity to comment on and add to the analysis contained in the BaARs which will now guide the review of the SDFs.

With the first phase of the review process being concluded, officials from the City’s Department for Urban Planning and Design will now collate and assess all of the submissions some of which are written in devising the first draft SDFs.

The concept or draft SDFs will be ready for public participation by October this year, if all goes as planned.

‘During this second phase of the SDF review process we will go back to our communities to report on the draft frameworks, and we will again ask them to help us refine what we present at those meetings. I encourage residents to stay involved in the months ahead. By participating in this planning process, citizens are taking control of enabling spatial justice, creating liveable circumstances, and establishing a path for prosperity and good investment in a Cape Town that is dear to all of us,’ said Alderman Nieuwoudt.

Once approved by the City Council, the district SDFs will guide future decisions about developments, land uses, and interventions to create integrated and inclusive communities across Cape Town.

The SDFs will guide the City’s response to urban growth on a district level and in a manner that is sustainable, resilient, and equitable. It will determine how the City should intervene on a local planning level to mitigate against constraints, and to enhance opportunities that will improve residents’ quality of living.

‘The City is serious about creating a compact and resource-efficient Cape Town, and we are also committed to protecting our natural ecosystems. Our SDFs must assist us in addressing the spatial injustices of the past; facilitate optimum land use; and create the kind of city investors feel confident investing in, while at the same time preserving Cape Town’s natural assets,’ said Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.

The revised SDFs will focus on the nature and location of development on a local level to promote economic growth and job creation. It will guide the City’s decisions on how and where the private sector and public sector can and should pursue development; how land should be used; and where the City should protect our natural environment and resources to become more resilient to climate change and other shocks, manage urbanisation, but also ensure that we direct our resources to vulnerable communities.

Source: City Of Cape Town