Sunrise UCT Hostel
Regrettably the scheduled speaker, Dimitri Christallides, cancelled his attendance at 11 a.m. on the day of the GM explaining that he would be unable to address the Ratepayers because the negative feedback about the proposed extensions to the student hostel at Sunrise meant that there was insufficient time to draw up new plans.
UCT distanced itself from the long-term development of the hostel currently occupied by UCT students, thus there was no certainty about how long UCT would use the facility. It was proposed to increase the number of rooms from 79 to 130, thus raising student numbers to 338, with 12 to a toilet. There was no guarantee that bunk beds would not be installed, further increasing the numbers. It was questionable whether the canteen could cope with the extra numbers, so students might be tempted to cook illegally. It was also not clear how well the students would be supervised.
Brian Watkyns said that the new entrance was more likely from Avonduur than Jan Smuts Drive. The servitude through the Business Park was not for pedestrians but only for through vehicular traffic that was not allowed to stop.
Natalie Duff, a neighbour, complained that when the hostel was used by Abbotts College, there were complaints about noise, litter and loitering, but the situation had become much worse with rubbish trucks parking at the gates and hooting in the early hours of the morning. Colette Tennison , another neighbour, was concerned that the hostel might become a residence for students in general with less control.
Although the plans were said to include recreational facilities, in fact, as Roger White pointed out, the swimming pool was not in use and the basketball court was a car park.
Mr Mariner criticised the Council for its lack of control over illegal building, but Riad Davids, supported by Clive Fletcher, said that it was up to the community to be vigilant and prevent building from starting. He appealed to neighbours to inform the PRRA at the first signs of building. He stressed that the PRRA rejected undesirable building projects, but that it did not specify what ought to be erected. He expected the developers would soon submit a proposal in writing.
By a show of hands there was no support for this development by the members in attendance. Riad Davids thanked the householder who had kindly provided hospitality on 17 February for the PRRA to meet neighbours affected by the proposed development.

Special Rating Area
Riad Davids reported that Taffy Roberts had now got all the information he needed from Council and was drafting a plan that would be submitted at a public meeting which would be advertised in the press. When presented with the facts and costs, Pinelanders could decide whether to continue with the project which needed a majority of 50% + 1 in favour.

COUNCILLOR’S REPORT BACK
Council wall: In response to Marion Lennox, Alderman Watkyns said that the Council would not pay to increase the height of the wall.
`Pinelands developments’: He also pointed out that many developments supposedly taking place in Pinelands were outside the boundaries.
4 Ennerdale had been partially built, but neighbours were objecting.
The pizzeria in Howard Centre had applied for a temporary liquor licence.
The two law enforcement officers were now on duty until 10 p.m.
Speed cameras were to be erected on Jan Smuts to curb speeding and drag racing.
Elsieskraal River Reserve :
Lights had now been installed along Elsieskraal.
The Council was in dispute with the contractor who had laid the pipes along Elsieskraal, thus leading to delays in fixing the paths.
Pollution from Ndabeni: More information was needed from neighbours in order to find the source of the pollution.
Coronation Park: A group of mothers had offered to upgrade the park.
Garden of Remembrance: R15,000 had been received from a Trust, and a landscaper had helped with suggestions, leading to an attractive transformation. Clive Fletcher congratulated those involved in this improvement, but asked for a low fence to keep small children in.
Court cases: The two illegal orphanages were being taken to court, so was SAWAS for admitting young people to an old-age home.
Leases: Brian Watkyns was investigating what Council property was leased to whom.
Avonduur squatters: Because they were squatting on government land, the Council could not evict them, but the Premier, Helen Zille, had been asked to persuade the government to act.
Transport: Following complaints about taxis, the lack of Jammy Shuttle service and inadequate transport, a public transport users’ forum had been formed to engage with taxi drivers.
Council budget: As Alderman Watkyns had just left a Council meeting, he briefly outlined some of the proposals which he stressed would first have to go for public comment. Property rates would go up. Old-age homes would benefit by paying property rates instead of commercial rates. Those earning between R3,000 – 4,000 per month would have their rates reduced. Electricity would go up, but a certain amount of free electricity would still be offered to low users. Sanitation and waste disposal would also increase. In reply to Ellen Gouws’ question on the criteria used to decide how much water and sewage should be free, he admitted he did not know, but said that free water would now only be given to the indigent.

Wisteria Avenue
Both the Chairman and Riad Davids commended Ellen Gouws for her initiative in canvassing neighbours to pay for a fence. Ellen Gouws complained that the open space had become a dumping ground and Sally Borchert wondered how much it was used. Marion Lennox pointed out that the vibracrete wall erected by Council was too low and the barbed wire on top was insufficient deterrent.

GENERAL
Verges: In reply to B. Smart, Alderman Watkyns said that though Council would mow wide verges, property-owners were expected to maintain the rest. B. Smart asked if PRRA could not ask householders to trim hedges and trees that encroached on pave-ments. Clive Fletcher asked if the proposed SRA could maintain verges. Brian Watkyns pointed out that if people chose to plant on the verges, they were responsible for the upkeep. Mr Marriner pointed out that a house in Alice’s Ride was government property, was neglected and needed to have the verge cut.
Traffic violation : When Mr Marriner complained that the law enfocement officers were ignoring traffic violations such as jumping red lights, he was told that they did not have the authority. Colette Tennison complained about speeding at night along Avonduur.
Central Square Park : T. Munro complained about squatters in the park behind Central Square which was covered with broken glass and litter. Brian Watkyns pointed out that this was a designated open space.
Lights in Springbok Close: Brian Watkyns assured Sally Borchert that these would be installed as soon as the money was available.
Clyde Pinelands: T. van Oortmerssen asked if any progress had been made. Brian Watkyns said that trees were being trimmed, but said that the Club was struggling financially, which the questioner disputed judging by the number of cars and people at the Club. He pointed out that if repairs were not done soon, they would be even more expensive. Brian Watkyns promised to look into it.
New planning regulations: In answer to B. Smart, Brian Watkyns admitted that he did not know how these would affect Pinelands.
Problem house : In reply to Sally Borchert’s query about the house in Gousblom, Brian Watkyns said it was one of 3 problem houses in Pinelands, but the new owner had submitted plans.

There being no further business, the meeting closed at 9:20 p.m.

(Feb 2011)

The Old Police Station
According to the Deeds office, Masanda Real Estate Pty Ltd are the registered owners. Plans submitted by the developer were objected to by a neighbour as not being in keeping with the area. PRRA supports this position. Although it appears that the developer is not going ahead at this stage, the situation will be kept under review.

Old Conradie Hospital site
Conradie remains a property of the State and has not been sold as the condition of sale was that all parties had to agree to the proposed development. PRRA is registered as an interested party and will be informed if and when there are any new proposals. Our objections were the increase in traffic density so we proposed a double highway linked to the N1. Other concerns were sewage capacity and no provision for extra schools. SAPS objected to the high density and no provision for an additional police station. Development is on hold and plans have a limit of 2 years before needing to be re-submitted from scratch.

Pinelands Grove Hostel
The hostel at the Pinelands Grove site on Sunrise (Way) was bought by Tygerberg Development Trust in 2007, and has been leased to UCT. The town planner for the land owners is currently negotiating with the neighbours, and at our General Meeting on 23 February will present plans to extend the building by an additional 259 units taking the total from 79 to 338, and also increase the number of parking bays to 95. There are many objections to the proposals especially as UCT only has a 5-year lease after which there are concerns that the owners will be free to pursue their original plans to which PRRA objected.

Oude Molen
This site has been subject to many development ideas to incorporate a variety of self-sustaining activities and to meet the needs of communities that claim heritage rights. Two members of the PRRA Committee sat on the Joint Negotiating Committee for 4 years, then the Government stopped the process. PRRA is questioning the authorities to try to understand what is happening. In the meantime it would seem that buildings are being demolished and the swimming pool closed to the detriment of the local community.

Howard Centre
The Ratepayers and Council are concerned about facilities for delivery vehicles to the shopping centre. Parking bays for Library staff and bays for disabled persons have also been discussed with the owners who have to observe bye-laws and binding agreements.

There was once a cartoon of a man home from work looking with appalled horror at his living room, which seemed to have been hit by a hurricane, with a view of the kitchen sink piled high with unwashed dishes while his wife stretched out on the couch reading a magazine remarks `You always tell me I do nothing all day, so that’s what I did.’

People (like the husband) often say a Ratepayers Association does nothing and ask what’s the point of joining. If things run smoothly, we take them for granted. It’s when things go wrong, that the Association is needed. We can and do intervene to help residents in dispute with neighbours or the Council.

Of course, the Association cannot fix the potholes or mow the grass verges, but it can and does pressurise the Council to do its job. One of the most important functions of the Association is to maintain the Garden City image by enforcing bye-laws such as building regulations, so, for example, the committee will not allow a 3-storey structure or any building on the boundary lines.

The local bye-laws also specify that all houses must be primarily residential, so a business can be run from home provided the owner lives there and uses only part of the house for work purposes. Owner-occupied bed and breakfast establishments are acceptable; guest houses run by a non-resident manager are not. Enforcement of the bye-laws upsets those who want to break them, but the Association will not set any precedents which would turn Pinelands into an over-built concrete jungle with whole streets turned into commercial areas.

The Association is also registered as an Interested Party with all the big proposed developments in Pinelands and the neighbourhood, so nothing can be done without first informing the Association which will always act in the best interest of Pinelands residents.