Call on residents to comment on spatial vision, development priorities for Cape Town

05 April 2021

The draft integrated spatial development frameworks (SDFs) and environmental management frameworks (EMFs) for the eight planning districts across Cape Town will be available for public comment as from tomorrow, 6 April 2021, for 60 days. Read more below:

The draft SDFs and EMFs set the planning and spatial vision for the City’s eight planning districts, namely: Table Bay; Blaauwberg; Southern; Northern; Cape Flats; Helderberg; Tygerberg; Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha and Greater Blue Downs.

These entail the City’s response to managing urban growth on a district level and in a manner that is sustainable, resilient, and equitable. It determines how the City should intervene on a local planning level to mitigate against constraints, and to enhance opportunities that will improve residents’ quality of living.

‘The plans also focus on the nature and location of development on a local level to promote economic growth and job creation. It will guide the City’s decisions on how and where the private sector and public sector can and should pursue developments; how land should be used; and where we should protect our natural environment and resources to become more resilient to climate change and other shocks, prevent urban sprawl, but also ensure that we direct our resources to vulnerable communities.

‘Once approved by the City Council, the district SDFs and EMFs will guide future decisions about developments, land uses, and interventions to create integrated and inclusive communities across Cape Town,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Marian Nieuwoudt.

The draft SDFs and EMFs will be available on the City’s website at: www.capetown.gov.za/HaveYourSay.

The City will also host open days in the coming weeks, where residents will have the opportunity to view the plans, and to ask questions to City officials. Health and safety protocols related to Covid-19 will be imposed, and attendees are reminded to wear masks that cover the nose and mouth, practice social distancing, and to sanitise or wash their hands.

The open day meetings will take place as follows:

• On 6, 7, and 8 April 2021, at the Bellville Council Chambers at 80 Voortrekker Road, Bellville from 17:00 to 18:30 
•  More meetings will be hosted, and the details of these will be announced in due course, on the City’s website

‘I encourage residents to please participate in this process. The documents will be available on the City’s website for viewing and comment. Those who can, will benefit from attending the open day meetings to obtain further clarity or raise questions. Residents have a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience of the areas they live in, and can assist us in finalising the draft documents before these are submitted to Council for approval,’ said Alderman Nieuwoudt.

The review of the City’s spatial development frameworks started in 2019, and is based on the Baseline and Analysis Report (BaAR) for each district. The BaARs were updated over the past months with the latest available information about the state of the population, environment, development, economy and property market in the planning districts, inclusive of the challenges, needs and opportunities on a local planning level.

The BaARs, as well as ideas for an implementation plan, will also be available for viewing during the public participation process.

The draft integrated SDFs and EMFs also contain a proposal for an Environment Management Instrument that sets out the rules for developments within the boundaries of Atlantis that are proposed to be excluded from the need to obtain environmental authorisation, and for the proposed area to be adopted as a National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) Urban Area. 

A separate but related report, the Coastal Economic and Spatial Strategic Framework (CESSF) that sets out recommendations for dealing with our sensitive coastline, is also available for public comment during this time.

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office