The City of Cape Town published the draft Local Spatial Development Framework (LSDF) for the Blaauwberg Road Corridor in Table View on 9 September 2024 for public comment. Given the significant interest in the draft LSDF, the City has extended the commenting period by another month, until 11 November 2024.
The draft LSDF relates to the areas adjacent to Blaauwberg Road, one of the most important transport routes in Table View. The corridor covers a distance of approximately 5km from Marine Circle in the west to the intersection with Koeberg Road and Potsdam Road in the east.
‘The intention of the LSDF is to address the challenges posed by historic planning dating from the 1980s, changes in the surroundings over the past 40 years, limitations on the corridor’s development potential, increasing congestion, and infrastructure challenges. Last month we hosted a public information day that was very well attended by residents and stakeholders. Given the interest, we have decided to give those who still want to comment another month to do so. I want to encourage residents and interested parties to make use of the additional time, and to submit comments. We are eager to hear from you,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment.
How to comment:
• Go online to access the relevant documents and submit comments at www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay
• Send an email to: BlaauwbergRoad.LSDF@capetown.gov.za
• The new closing date is 11 November 2024
‘The intention of the LSDF is to develop Blaauwberg Road into a thriving urban corridor with world class destinations, walkable precincts and quality public spaces. It must be integrated with the surrounding natural assets and guide the way for sustainable urban development. It is important to participate in this process because once approved, the LSDF will determine the development vision for the area on a local level and guide the City in making decisions about development applications and land use, and public investment choices,’ said Alderman Andrews.
Context
Blaauwberg Road was developed in the late 1980s for low density suburban residential uses, based on a car centric development model with limited consideration of its interaction with the natural environment and open spaces.
Over the past 40 years, the urban footprint expanded to the north with the creation of new suburbs such as Parklands, Dunoon, West Beach, Sandown, Big Bay, Sunningdale, Rivergate and more. Congestion along Blaauwberg Road has subsequently increased, and with historic title deed restrictions limiting the development potential along this corridor.
In devising the draft LSDF the City relied on the 1998 Blaauwberg Road Growth Management Strategy as reference point. More than 25 years ago already, the strategy proposed that we should combine the mobility function of the Blaauwberg Road east-west arterial route with higher density mixed use development along the axis in order to fulfil the corridor’s future potential.
Furthermore, the draft LSDF responds to and aligns with the Blaauwberg District Spatial Development Framework that was approved by Council in 2023. The DSDF identifies Blaauwberg Road and part of Marine Drive as prioritised areas for mixed land use, and higher density development; and pursues improved access to coastal opportunity areas such as the Table View beachfront.
The draft LSDF is informed by an interactive public participation process that took place in the second half of 2023, during which the insights of residents, business owners and other interested groups were taken into account.
Key spatial strategies for the Blaauwberg Road Corridor
· Plan for employment and improve access to economic opportunities – while the economy along Blaauwberg Road is currently service and retail based, there is a potential for a greater mix of economic opportunities
· To enhance access to the Marine Circle area and the coastline, which is a destination for sport and recreation, and tourism. Improved management can support economic development
· The Western section of the corridor between Marine Circle and the R27 can be developed further as a mixed use economic area. The shift to remote work brings opportunities to local business nodes and its proximity to the coast gives Blaauwberg Road a competitive advantage
· Development should be cognisant of the surrounding natural assets such as Rietvlei and the coast; and capacity constraints of the current services infrastructure
· Blaauwberg Road is a trunk MyCiTi route; increasing densities in the surrounding corridor will give more people access to opportunities along the route
· New development should provide a range of housing opportunities to accommodate varied income levels in support of a more inclusive and integrated city
The key policy outcomes: building a resilient corridor that can withstand the impact of climate change (wind, rising sea levels, storm surges); creating a vibrant and walkable urban area; managing growth responsibly; improving connections with public open spaces and natural areas; improving the mobility functions of Blaauwberg Road and the West Coast Road; and promoting sustainable streetscape designs.
The draft also proposes priority areas and projects for intervention to be implemented by City departments over the short- to long-term. These are based on the feedback received during the public participation process that the City hosted in September and October 2023 as part of the review of Growth Management Strategy for Blaauwberg Road.
Supplied by: City of Cape Town
