Update on the Development of Firgrove and Soetvlei Fields 20 October 09

From the Steering Group of Residents [including CHRA, CPOA and TRA]

It has been a year since the public participation meeting at Bergvliet High School on 23 October 2009, when we first heard the proposal for high-density, low-income housing from the Western Cape Government for the Firgrove and Soetvlei fields.

The current status is as follows:
The administration of the Western Cape Government has changed from ANC to DA.
The DA Provincial Government has disputed the pre-election handover of the land by the previous Provincial Government to the National Housing Development Agency.

The resultant uncertainty of the situation is unsettling, which is why the steering group of residents continues to investigate options for the Firgrove and Soetvlei fields, and engage with all possible stakeholders in order to establish a fair and equitable outcome.

Our current focus is threefold:
1. We support the application of the American International School to expand their lease to include much of the vacant land on Soetvlei Avenue.
2. We support the City’s Spatial Planning Guidelines for residential development on the fields, at a slightly higher density in comparison to the properties adjacent to the fields.
3. We support the continued discussions between the Constantia Land Claimants, the Land Claims Commission and the Western Cape Government.
The claimants wish to conclude the land restitution process that started 14 years ago. During this process, the previous Provincial Government identified the Firgrove field as a settlement land claims in lieu of land that is no longer available for restoration. We are satisfied that the claimants’ intended use of the land would be in compliance with the City’s guidelines for development.

Your information, comments or questions are always welcome.