PROTECT DURBANVILLE RACECOURSE OPEN SPACEAND OPPOSE THE CURRENT DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION

To: City of Cape Town – Municipal Planning Authority  We, the undersigned residents and community members of Durbanville and surrounding areas, respectfully petition the City of Cape Town to refuse or significantly reconsider the current land use development applications relating to: 

Erven 458, 4627 and 4648 Durbanville (Durbanville Racecourse Property).

The proposal includes: 

• Rezoning large portions of the land currently designated as Open Space • Development of approximately 980 residential units 

• Construction of retail and office space 

• Removal of existing restrictive title deed conditions 

• Major changes to the Northern District Spatial Development Framework 

While we support responsible and sustainable development, we believe the current proposal raises serious concerns for residents, infrastructure, and the long-term character of Durbanville.  We therefore request that the City refuse the application in its current form or delay any approval until the following critical issues are fully addressed. 

1. Inadequate Infrastructure Capacity 

The development is expected to add significant demand on water and sewer infrastructure.  Available information suggests the development could generate approximately: 

• 409 kℓ of wastewater per day 

• 477 kℓ of additional water demand per day 

Residents are concerned that existing infrastructure — including the Fisantekraal Wastewater Treatment Works and surrounding networks — may not yet have sufficient operational capacity.  Approving development before confirmed infrastructure upgrades are fully completed risks: 

• Sewer overflows 

• Water pressure problems 

• Increased service failures for existing residents 

2. Increased Traffic Congestion and Road Safety Risks 

The proposed development could generate substantial additional traffic affecting:

• Racecourse Road

• St Johns Road 

• Bowlers Avenue 

• Queens Street   

• Surrounding residential roads including Basson street

These roads already experience congestion, particularly during school peak hours. 

Residents are concerned that traffic mitigation plans are based on data that is already out of date,conceptual and not guaranteed, while the development scale is significant. 

3. Loss of Important Open Space 

The site is designated as Structuring Open Space under the Northern District Spatial Development Framework (2023).  Open space areas play a vital role in: 

• Environmental protection 

• Stormwater management 

• Preserving Durbanville’s landscape character 

• Providing visual relief and ecological continuity 

Rezoning this land for dense development would permanently alter the planning framework that residents have relied upon. 

4. Removal of Long-Standing Title Deed Restrictions 

The application seeks to remove restrictive title conditions that historically helped protect the character and planning expectations of the area. 

Removing these protections fundamentally changes the development rights associated with the property and the surrounding neighborhood. This is something the existing restrictions in the Title Deeds were protecting against.

5. Impact on Residential Character and Quality of Life 

The scale and density of the proposed development may result in:  • Increased noise and light pollution 

• Reduced privacy for neighboring homes 

• Increased traffic infiltration into residential streets 

• Pressure on local services and parking 

Many residents chose to live in Durbanville because of its lower-density village character and open landscapes, which may be significantly affected by this proposal.   

6. Impact on community services like Policing

The scale and density of the proposed development will result in:

Thousands more residents and the current resourcing of the policing service (SAPS) is already under resourced when compared to the standards set for police per 1000 residents.    

OUR REQUEST TO THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN 

We respectfully request that the City: 

1.    Refuse the development application in its current form,    

OR

2. Defer approval until: 

• Infrastructure upgrades are completed and independently verified

• Binding traffic upgrade commitments are in place 

• The scale and density of the development are reconsidered 

• Open space protections are properly evaluated 

• Community concerns are fully addressed including more Police and Schools. 

COMMUNITY SUPPORT 

This petition represents the collective concerns of residents who believe that development in Durbanville must be: 

• Responsible 

• Infrastructure-supported 

• Environmentally sustainable 

• Consistent with adopted spatial planning policies 

We urge the City of Cape Town to protect the long-term interests of the community and future generations by carefully reconsidering this proposal.  

Submitted on behalf of concerned residents and community members of Durbanville and the surrounding areas.

Richard Downing    Contact the author of the petition