These applications get tested against approved plans and documents first. These plans, like the Spacial Development Plan get re-done every x years and can be amended in between. The process is governed by by-laws but the content is decided on by committees/council/ expert planning teams. So there is a lot of “soft”argument involved. Developers and land owners are continuously trying to manipulate these plans to their benefit as tremendous amounts of money are involved. For this development, with the proposed density of 25 and 50 units per ha (let’s say an average of 37.5) and 48 ha, that could theoretically amount to 1800 units. If a plot is sold for say 2.5 mln on average, that is R4.5 Bln just in land sales.
As residents we must hold the municipality to their process, show where proposals do not follow the approved plans and appeal with as many soft arguments as possible to those that have to decide on the proposal.
We will continuously be up to municipal officials and developers who have vested interested in more development.
As a group we will provide a template comments with suggestions But we will still have to rely on individuals to provide comments as the group may not necessary be legally recognised. so we need individual comments plus a group comment signed by everyone.