NEWS 5
PEOPLE'S POST | FALSE BAY Tuesday, 28 May 2013
SPECTACULAR: People’s Post reader Keith Mellor captured this captivating panoramic shot of the SA Naval base in Simon’s Town. PHOTO: KEITH/WWW.DREAMIMAGES.CO.ZA
GLENCAIRN: ROTARY PLANS RETIREMENT VILLAGE
Development still on track
TERESA FISCHER
T
HE Rotary Club of Cape Town is going ahead with its plans to develop a 90unit retirement village on its land in Glencairn. The village would be situated on 4.2ha of its Glen Road property (Erf 61). Both the Glencairn Action Group (GAG) and the Simon’s Town Civic Association are opposed to the proposal (“‘No’ to retirement plan”, People’s Post, 11 December 2012). Objectors say the property was left to Rotary to manage for the benefit of underprivileged children. This was stipulated in a will left by the previous owner, William Goodman Haines. It was bequeathed to Rotary in 1942. A resident, who asked to remain anonymous, says: “Are the residents of Glencairn and Welcome Glen aware of the proposed plan by Rotary to build a 90-home retirement village with a community centre on a part of their land between the Glencairn Express and Glen Road?” She says this would add to the already problematic traffic situation in the Far South. Cape Town Rotary president John Gomes says: “We are following the process to the letter of the law.” Gomes says notices advertising rezoning and Urban Edge Relaxation applications are ready for publication on site and in local newspapers. Architects for the Cape Town Rotary Club say they are waiting for a closing date to be supplied by council. The public will then have 30 days from
that date to comment. Council will advertise in local newspapers. Meanwhile a Basic Assessment Report (BAR) was compiled and submitted for comment for a 21-day period. This period has since passed and comments are being processed prior to submission of final BAR to Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. This department has 30 days to accept or reject information received and a further 30 days for assessment and decision. However, this depends on the progress with the planning application and approval, and could thus be delayed. Environmental approval hinges on Town Planning approvals. Gomes has previously stated the organisation needs funds to improve the facilities in order to keep the camp running, adding Rotary has been subsidising the property to a “considerable extent”. Gomes says Haines’ wish was that the land be used as a holiday haven for disadvantaged children. He says while there is no stipulation to this effect in the title deeds Rotary will continue to hold the land for this purpose. The property will remain under the control of Rotary and the natural areas would be retained. The property is divided into two portions, 200ha of which are leased to Table Mountain National Park. A youth camp is located on 8ha of the remaining 41ha. Objectors say the land lies outside the Urban Edge and that for the development to go ahead would have to be amended, which would “set a precarious precedent”.