A big THANK YOU to all the donors who contributed toward the costs of preparing and presenting the Noordhoek community’s objections at the SPELUM meeting on Wednesday 12 February. The donations covered the expenses.
Elzette Henshilwood , a Town Planner presented our case. The presentation and explanatory notes can be viewed by clicking below.
As a result of our efforts, a decision was delayed until there had been a site visit by the Councillors on the SPELUM committee.
The previous visit that was supported by many of the objectors being present was not an official visit. It did however garner the support of Councillor Nikelo who voiced his opposition to the application and urged the rest of the Committee to visit the site before a decision is made. The Chairperson (Councillor Kannenberg) then called for a vote on visiting the site.
Kenny Phillips of the Spatial Planning, Environment and Land Use Management Committee (Spelum) has stated:
It is advised that the inspection is completely informal and does not constitute a meeting of any kind. The inspection is purely to allow members to observe the site and the surrounding area. If there was no need at all for the Committee to get access to the applicants property the applicant would not be told of the date of the meeting. No discussion or debate about the merits of the application will take place at the inspection. All discussion and debate will take place at the meeting on 12 March 2014 so that people who have an interest in the application will hear all discussion and debate.
The procedure for the inspection is based on the experience gained from previous inspections in years past. When objectors or the applicant are allowed to be present there is a tendency for members of the Committee to be approached individually on the edges of the group by people trying to point out issues, this has in the past disrupted inspections. I am not saying that that same would happen in this instance but if I was to advise you of the date it would deviate from normal practice and create expectations in respect of other inspections. Great care will be taken to ensure that if the applicant, or a representative, is present on the property that he /she is not able to shadow the members on their inspection. The applicant will also not be allowed to shadow the inspection when they inspect the surrounding area.
