July 2018
FRANSCHHOEK Scan the QR code to read the Tatler online
Stuart and Leigh greet PnP
Chocolate Painting
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Q&A Siegie Juling Page 16
Retirement village plan angers neighbours
News that the owner of erf 3476 (Die Eike) is planning a luxury retirement village on the property has not been welcomed by the property’s neighbours. Bruce Gatland, GM of La Cotte Farm, says: “If this development were to be approved, it would have a marked detrimental effect on the value and enjoyment of our property … La Cotte Farm is regarded as of great cultural and historical importance … We have gone to great lengths and expense to preserve and restore the heritage aspects of the property. The applicant’s Architect’s rendering of group housing units proposed for historic proposal is alarming and Die Eike property (Jan Hanekom Partnership) disappointing in its apparent the Die Eike Precinct, loss of rural views and night total disregard for this heritage. It will have a hugely light. The sensitivity in layout and design towards detrimental effect on the unique agricultural heritage heritage buildings and precincts as well as the of the town and valley as a whole.” Franschhoek town character are key concerns within These feelings were echoed by the Heritage this development.” Committee of the Franschhoek Heritage and The HIA for the neighbouring La Cotte Farm states Ratepayers Association, one of whose members that it “needs to secure an agricultural foreground… – architect Larry Oltmanns – said: “All four of the to the homestead and outbuildings including the alternative plans represent a suburban-style plan that mill”. Die Eike’s VIA refers to this by stating relates neither to the grid of the village nor to the “Therefore development on Die Eike, especially stand-alone buildings on agricultural plots. As such, it within the northern boundary, will have to bear in would be a gross and inappropriate imposition.” mind the agricultural foreground essential to the La According to the information available from the Cotte Precinct. Although this mainly pertains to what project environmental consultant’s website 47 single happens within the La Cotte property boundaries residential units and four group housing units with it is important that the Die Eike development is another 27 units are planned. These are to be set sympathetic to this requirement.” among vineyards and olive groves. The historic Cape According to the HIA “It is to be noted the owner Dutch manor house is proposed to be converted into a is not intending to be the ultimate developer and is clubhouse for the development. Access to the property preparing the plans for the purpose of establishing a is proposed to be gained via the existing entrance at the basket of rights to be sold on.” intersection of Akademie Street and Oak Lodge and a The VIA, which was conducted in conjunction with new entrance off an extension of Louis Botha Street. the HIA, also states that “Ultimately, the assessment The property is currently zoned agricultural, although it finds that the development proposal has not responded does fall within the Franschhoek Urban Edge. Die Eike satisfactorily to all the heritage/visual concerns. homestead also falls within the Franschhoek Heritage Impacts in overall terms are expected to be Very High Overlay Zone – previously known as the ‘historic area’. to Medium High. The socio-economic benefits do not Heritage Western Cape required that both a provide sufficient mitigation. These impacts can in all Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) and Visual likelihood, and, in most respects, be mitigated if the Impact Assessment (VIA) be undertaken for the development design considerations included in the proposed development. The VIA, by Antoinette VIA and the heritage indicators are accommodated in a Raimond Landscape Architectural Consulting, states revised urban design/development proposal.” that “it (the proposed development) does not seem to Interested and affected parties held a meeting on 21 convincingly ‘protect important heritage buildings and June to coordinate their response to the proposal. The precincts’. The visual impacts include a change from Tatler understands that at least one of the interested agricultural landscape to a residential development, and affected parties has retained legal counsel to visibility from sensitive areas & receptors, loss of object to the proposed development. visual link with heritage resources, loss of part of
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