Closing date looms for comment on local spatial plan for CBD
27 October 2024
The City of Cape Town wants to remind residents and interest groups that time is running out for comments on the local spatial development framework (LSDF) for the Central Business District (CBD). The closing date for submissions is Thursday, 31 October 2024.
The intention of the LSDF is to strategically shape the CBD-area’s future growth and development.
The draft LSDF (and a background information document) is available on the City’s website at: www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay
How to comment:
• Go online www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay
• Submit comments by 31 October 2024
‘The CBD is key to Cape Town’s future resilience and economic health. The draft LSDF proposes how we can fully optimise the CBD’s existing characteristics, such as its unique sense of place with the Atlantic Ocean and Table Mountain, its diverse cultural heritage, and its vibrancy.
‘The intention of this spatial vision is to transform the CBD into an environment that is more people-centred, with urban design interventions to improve mobility and access for pedestrians, efforts to optimise heritage areas, a public land programme to inform land release in support of affordable housing opportunities, and an appropriately scaled urban form and interface to encourage mixed use intensification. With mixed use, we mean development that accommodates multiple uses such as business, retail, and residential opportunities for existing and new buildings.
‘Thus, in short, we need the CBD to be accessible to all Capetonians and visitors, safe, attractive, and inclusive. The LSDF must guide development decisions to accommodate the growth in the property market, facilitate mixed-use and residential intensification, while leveraging the character and traditional urban fabric opportunities,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
The draft LSDF addresses the core economic area of the CBD, and proposes development guidelines for each of the eight precincts in terms of its urban form, approach towards height management, and character assessment. The eight precincts are De Waterkant, Convention District, Mid-City, Company Gardens, East Foreshore, Cape Town Station, East City, and Lower Gardens.
All of the public comments will be assessed and taken into account in finalising the LSDF once the public participation process has been concluded.
‘We have a few days left before the commenting period closes. I encourage those who have not done so yet, to peruse the draft document and to submit your comments. It is important for all residents and stakeholders to collaborate with the City as we are refining the draft LSDF. Once approved, the LSDF will guide decisions about land use and development, density, transportation and urban design. It will also inform public investment in infrastructure to ensure that the CBD transitions into a more sustainable, equitable, inclusive, liveable and resilient space to the benefit of current and future generations of Capetonians. Thus, there should be no doubt about the importance of the LSDF in guiding us towards the CBD of the future, and therefore, the more input we receive from our residents, the better,’ said Alderman Andrews.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
