Present: Trudi Groenewald – chair
John Powell
Michael Williams – minutes
45 supporters and members of the public
Apologies Cllr J – P Smith Inspector Hudson SAPS station commissioner
REPORTS AND REQUESTS
CBRRA secretary: Anne Caras has retired and a replacement is badly needed. The chairperson called for volunteers.
CBRRA Harrison court case: The Harrison case (cnr Geneva and Blinkwater) CBRRA appeal is proceeding. We do not know whether the City Council is involved or not.
Rates Revaluation: Council is proposing to revalue all properties on 1 July 2009 and to implement rateable values on this base from 1 July 2010.
CBRRA PLANNING:
Planning meetings are “open” and anyone is welcome. The following are identified as key issues:
- 6 Lincoln Road - two or three stories double dwelling ·
- 17 Ottawa Avenue - garage underneath
- 24 Geneva Drive - one of three CBRRA court cases - a six level apartment block ·
- 2 Woodford Avenue - Crystal five level apartment block ·
- 17 Geneva Drive - three flats ·
- 2 Woodhead Close - five stories in a three story area, due to go to the High Court on 24 February 2009 ·
- House Bailes in Kloof Rd, Clifton - pool is illegal
SECURITY:
Police station is being upgraded.
Crime reports January -
- Theft from car – Clifton
- Muggings – Bakoven and Clifton
- Housebreaking – two active groups in Bakoven and Glen Housebreaking
- Gang - Still in jail. Objections to bail from CBW TV
- Camera project - R650,000 raised as a loan. Final decision in 2 weeks
Vagrants - Usual increase in numbers in December to February with the accompanying increase in crime
CB Security Initiative - Closer working between SAPS, ADT, Baywatch and CBW being implemented. Details to follow.
Camps Bay Watch - Now up to 603 members of whom 115 are active. Ian Merrington is now the chairman.
QUERIES AND COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR:
- Clive Davies - SAPS radios handheld only during the station refurbishment. SAPS have replaced officers cars with vans
- Brenda Gibbs - Request for more lighting on the sportsfield.
- Roundhouse – off license application has been opposed.
- Kevin Tucker - Trees in the Glen have been cut down – who permitted it? Pedestrian traffic through the Glen increasing.
- Tony Hare - Film crews in Bakoven are becoming a nuisance. Closer supervision of them is required.
CONCLUSION:
Chairman thanked the Bay Hotel for the use of the Rotunda and the refreshments provided.
The meeting ended at 21h40.
17 OTTAWA AVENUE...why would the camps bay rate payers association worry about an area that was closed up and then turned into a garage?the area was already excavated to build,put up props and was there anyway...so why not allow homeowners to improve their properties with unused and wasted area?surely this is a vendetta by certain neighbours who are unable to improve their properties because of financial straints.surely when one home owner increases the value of one propert that it would increase the property of all those around?i think its just a bitter taste in the mouths of those homeowners who just cannot afford to improve their living standards and of the rate payers association who really have nothing else to do.
ReplyDeleteThe CBRRA must certainly worry about such a blatant violation of neighbours' rights if it is to properly fulfill its mandate from the community.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous dismisses this whole matter as a mere oversight and trifle. The estimated R1 - R1.5m devaluation of the adjoining neighbour's property value caused by this illegal building is no "little" matter. The neighbor's views, sunlight, privacy and general amenities have simply been obliterated.
Having had sight of the original plans, I strongly feel that the City should not have approved them in the first place.
Anonymous is also being disingenuous by not acknowledging that by indicating the existing ground levels at 2m higher than is the real case, a building that is over 2m higher than permitted was approved by a very careless City. And by doing so, a convenient "area" under the house (but at natural ground level) became available to build a garage in this "unused and wasted space".
If the plan submission was honest, this would not be the case. All too very convenient - and sadly now an inappropriate structure that is derogating from the values of the neighbouring properties.
The CBRRA will continue to oppose the regularisation of this building.
Chris Willemse
Chair : Planning
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous "D"
ReplyDeleteTo start with your last question first, CBRRA believes that the plans shouldn't have been approved in the first place as incorrect ground levels were indicated on those plans and the City didn't properly consider the height of the building.
All of this is moot as the building was not constructed according to the approved plan, which resulted in a totally illegal structure. Thereafter followed the sequence of events that has been well documented.
The most affected neighbour, Mrs Steyn, on the advice of CBRRA, sought a professional opinion as to the quantum depreciation of her house resulting from this illegal structure. That value was assessed at about R700 000.
It would be quite normal, under the circumstances, for Mrs Steyn to claim this derogation of her property's value through civil action.
However, in the interests of the immediate community and the streetscape that has been compromised by this unsympathetic structure, Mrs Steyn has requested her neighbour to effect modifications to the building that will remove part of the offending portion and render the building compliant with the Zoning Scheme. This is clearly the best option.
All of this has been facilitated by CBRRA who arranged meetings with all the parties and the City planning department.
It is our understanding that the owner of the building, Mrs Lipman, is currently setting the process in motion to effect the changes.
In conclusion, I am really not too sure what "jealousy" you are refering to and, of course, it is always preferable to know to whom one is addressing in such matters.
Regards
Chris Willemse (Chair)