Residents want a halt to building project

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 19

2015 A ROW between residents of Newlands Village, a construction company and the city council, over a residential development in Kildare Lane, has residents demanding a cease-works order to prevent further construction.

Citing their concerns, Newlands residents claim the developers have drastically deviated from the original plans approved by the city council, flaunting regulations, disobeying building codes and ignoring the cladding of the Kildare Lane development.

“They must declare a moratorium on all current and proposed developments,” resident Safoora Sadek said.

Residents asked the city council’s ombudsman to investigate what they call “dodgy dealings” and the conduct of its officials.

Resident Sandra Goldberg said the entire saga could have been avoided if the Plumstead branch of the department of town planning had been more vigilant.

“In fact, the complete failure of this department makes it complicit in activities which could be illegal,” she said.

The original architect, Michele Sandilands, posted concerns on the neighbourhood’s website that the original plans were not being followed.

Sandilands said in the post that the plans were commissioned by her then clients in 2011 and were approved in December 2012.

The plot and plans were then sold to Monarc Developments.

Refuting residents’ claims, Monarc Developments executive director Trevor Drabbe said they were “within the constraints of the current zoning scheme”.

Drabbe said it was common practice for clients to make changes to specifications subsequent to the commencement of building.

Mayoral committee member for energy, environmental and spatial planning Johan van der Merwe, said a cease-works notice was issued to stop the work which deviated from the original approved building plans.

He said the cease-works order was still in place and would be upheld until a decision had been reached on the application submitted to correct the deviation.