Herewith the ABM minutes held on 16 October 2013: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Minutes of the meeting held at Laerskool Menlopark on 16 October 2013 Bob Pullen 083 625 7677 Erik Buiten 083 325 8159 Jeannie v. Wyk 083 380 6371 Yolanda vd Vyver 082 821 9259 1. Welcome The chairman, Bob Pullen, opened the meeting and welcomed all present. He requested all attendees to make sure that they sign the attendance register. He also welcomed Ward 82 Councillor Siobhan Muller and thanked her for supporting the MPCC. The MPCC is a voluntary association with a constitution and the meeting will be conducted in a formal business-like way. There is a quorum present. The Chairman referred the meeting to the recently circulated MPCC Newsletter in which Notice of the Meeting is given and an Agenda is proposed. 2. Apologies Apologies were received from the following persons: • Johan Basson, who is treasurer of the MPCC and is not able to stand for re-election • Brian Hambleton-Jones, a former member of the MPCC Committee • Darryl Moss • Owen Frisbee • Pieter Wannenburg. 3. Annual Report The Chairman referred the meeting to the Annual Report for 2013 which was circulated to members who are on the address list through the medium of the recent Newsletter. The following matters were emphasized: 3.1 Committee members The following persons served on the Committee in 2012/13: Chairman: Bob Pullen - security and infrastructure Vice Chairman: Erik Buiten - town planning issues Treasurer: Johan Basson - treasurer Secretary: Yolanda van der Vyver – planning matters Members: Jeannie van Wyk - legal matters Mike Krynauw - transportation and traffic Eddie Howden - illegal businesses Maritha Meyer - public relations and liaison Paul Rossouw - public relations and liaison Peter Skelton - environmental monitoring The Committee met seven times during the past year and attended meetings with the Clr Siobhan Muller, the Joint Action Group (JAG), officials of the City Council, and representatives of Developers and their planners. 3.2 Rezoning Rezoning applications, which are submitted to Council by Town Planners as representatives of developers, are referred to Clr Muller for comment. Clr Muller passes the applications to the MPCC for its comment, usually within a few days. The MPCC will either object to or support the application. The recent trend has been for a rapid increase in density of residential units from the usual 25 units per ha. 49 units /ha have been approved for development of Brooklyn Gate and Mckenzie Gate and applications for up to about 100 units per ha are pending. 3.3 Security At the end of 2007 the MSI (Menlo Park Security Initiative), a Section 21 Company, was formed with the support of the MPCC. MSI employed GPS, a security contractor, to provide foot patrols as a preventative measure and an alarm response service, with a motorised reaction unit. GPS was taken over by Fidelity which has continued the service. The number of subscribers to MSI has decreased and it seems as if there is general apathy since only about 330 households contribute to the initiative. 3.4 Casino The JAG, with the active support of members of the MPCC, has objected to a proposed Casino in Menlyn Maine in a submission to the Gauteng Gambling Board. The City Council has already approved the rezoning application. 3.5 Illegal Land uses There is a creep of businesses into the residential area and Eddie Howden, together with Clr Siobhan Muller, monitor and report the businesses to Council. There has been very little success in stopping businesses from operating illegally in the suburb. 3.6 Environment The Friends of the Waterkloof- and Wolwespruits have been active in cleaning up these areas. 4. Financial Report There is just over R3000 in the MPCC bank account. Funds are used for stationery and printing, brochures and advertising of the AGM. 5. Membership of the MPCC The Chairman requested all Menlo Park households make a R100-00 contribution to the MPCC funds for 2013/14. Colin Cameron thanked the Committee members for their time and effort. 6. Election of Committee for 2013/2014 The Chairman invited nominations for the 2013/14 Committee. Fred Oosthuizen was nominated from the floor and was thanked for making himself available. All members of the outgoing Committee, except for Johan Basson, were available for re-election. All nominees were elected to the Committee for 2013/14. 7. Message from Councillor Siobhan Muller, Ward 82 Councillor Muller thanked the members of the Committee, some of whom are also on the Ward Committee for Ward 82, for their support and advice. She asked that all residents register and vote in the National and Provincial Government elections next year. Voting stations will be at Menlopark Laerskool and Alphen Park. Clr Muller described the history of the upgrade of the storm water drainage channel that was started about three years ago and advised that work has again restarted. The project should be complete by April 2014 when vagrants will no longer have access to the work area. The route of the TRT (Tshwane Rapid Transport) will follow Lynnwood Road from Loftus Versveld to Atterbury Road where it turns south east past the Menlopark Hoerskool. There will be three lanes, one dedicated to the TRT and two for general traffic, except past the High School where only one traffic lane is envisaged at present. The TRT project, which is funded by National Government, will extend the storm water culvert at Lynn Park in Lynnwood Road to widen the road sufficiently for all the lanes required. Work will soon commence on repairing private boundary walls, swimming pools and other damage caused during construction. Richard King has been appointed Community Liaison Officer (CLO) for the project. 8. OUR MENLOPARK OF THE FUTURE 8.1 Kobus van der Vyver from Urban Econ made an illustrated presentation on the demographics of Menlo Park, showing changes over the past decade. The trend is for the average age of residents to decrease and occupation densities to increase. The population is generally in the high middle to high income group, with more young families. An increasing number of University students are seeking accommodation in the suburb. An increase in commercial activities in the suburb is expected with more restaurants, coffee shops, guesthouses and offices. 8.2 Viljoen du Plessis from Metroplan discussed the forces at work leading to changes in the character of the area. He mentioned the draft Regional Spatial Development Framework 2013 which reflects the policy of the City Council but which has not yet been approved by Council. This policy envisages development in Menlo Park being approved with densities up to 200 units/ha Developments like Brooklyn Gate and McKenzie Gate are already at about 50 units/ha. He described the densities that will be allowed along main roads and within 200m walking distance from TRT stations. Information on the RSDF can be downloaded from the Metroplan website. 8.3 Paul Rossouw presented an analysis of recent trends in Real Estate transactions and answered the rhetorical question: “Must I sell?” His presentation is attached to the minutes. 8.4 Discussion from the floor The Chairman invited questions for clarification of the presentations and opened the subject to discussion. The following persons participated in the discussion with one or two participants not being identified: Yolanda van der Vyver Heilet Dirk van Niekerk Johan Struwig Marlize Mostert Bessie Venter Anneli Billman Paul Rossouw Viljoen du Plessis Jeannie van Wyk Erik Buiten Gerhard Minnaar Karen Petzer Mike Krynauw. While the meeting was encouraged to focus on the discussion topic in general, a recent application for a very high density development on three consolidated stands along Atterbury, The Village and Kay Roads was in the mind of everyone and became the case for discussion. Questions were put to the invited speakers and to the meeting generally. The following matters were highlighted: • Homeowners need not just accept increased densities being proposed. They do have a say in the nature of development in future but only by objecting to proposed developments when applications for increased development rights are lodged. Such objections can asking for traffic impact assessments and reports on the adequacy of services, and by ensuring that the zoning documents stipulate acceptable building lines, and comply with guidelines on privacy and noise. • The present Menlo Park Development Framework prepared by the MPCC about five years ago has no statutory status and was not accepted by the City Council. A statutory Precinct Plan, indicating permissible land use zoning and densities, is required. This will provide the MPCC with the basis needed to more effectively moderate the administrative granting of increased land use rights. • The process for applying for increased development rights was explained. The applicant must have a mandate from the current land owner to submit such an application. • The impact of successful rezoning applications on land use was demonstrated. • It was confirmed that the current policy of permitting higher density developments was applicable in existing areas “closed off” by traffic control booms. This policy applies everywhere within a certain walking distance from a public transport facility, including areas which are at present “closed off”. • It was confirmed that it is better for many individuals to object to development proposals if they are affected but groups of people with a common cause are also free to object. Objectors may be expected to then attend a hearing on the application by a Municipal Planning Committee. • A neighbour of one of the erven included in the application for a large development along Atterbury/ The Village/ Kay Roads expressed the view that while they are is not against densification per se but this should not be permitted at unreasonable cost to neighbour’s rights. Their view is that densification such as this will affect the quality of life in Menlo Park and residents should stand together, object where justifiable and place pressure on the City Council to consider their objections. • It was noted that objections to the above-mentioned rezoning application can be submitted in any form and that there is no prescribed template for this purpose. A box will be placed at the control gate in Border West into which comments and objections can be placed for delivery to the City Council. • It was noted that the MPCC had previously received and objected to applications for office blocks to be permitted in the same position as the current application for very high density residential use. The MPCC was of the view that business premises are less desirable than appropriate high density residential use. Comment from the MPCC will be informed by the likely impact of the application on the privacy of neighbours, adequate provision for open space and for parking space, inter alia. It is expected that by lodging this objection an opportunity will be created to negotiate a more acceptable design with the applicant. This will support residents who object as is their individual right. • The meeting heard the view that development is a good thing but it has to be done right. It was stressed that residents must support the MPCC in its effort to act in their interests and for this to work there is a need for better communication and for the feelings, expectations and needs of residents to be understood. • It was noted that the Town Planning consultancy, Metroplan, offers workshops for briefing estate agents on the policies and vision of the City Council. Such presentations can be a source of information on permissible densities and land use zoning potential for buyers of properties in Menlo. When a property in a housing estate is bought, the development guidelines applicable in the estate are mandatory and the development density cannot change. This is not the case in Menlo Park. • The meeting noted the opinions that property prices in Menlo Park are too high for cheap developments to be financially attractive. In a way this is a safeguard of standards in the suburb. • The meeting was informed that the positions of the TRT stations in Menlo Park have recently been revised but not yet formally approved by the City Council. Locality plans showing the current TRT route proposals for Line 2B were available for scrutiny after the meeting. 9. Closure Bob Pullen closed the meeting at 08.10 pm with thanks to those who attended the meeting, to members of the MPCC Committee who made the arrangements and to the Menlopark Laerskool for once again making the school facilities available for the occassion.
Posted on: Mon, 25 Nov 2013 05:52:53 +0000
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