KNYSNA NEWS - A number of Knysna Heights residents are upset about the town authority overturning the 2018 Municipal Planning Tribunal decision to deny consolidation and rezoning applications brought by the owner of erven 5 345 and 5 346 on the corner of Campbell and Pickard streets.

Knysna-Plett Herald (KPH) is in possession of e-mail conversations between residents of Knysna Heights and the municipality wherein they question the move.

The minutes of a Municipal Planning Tribunal meeting on 26 June 2018 note the refusal of the applications made by Mike Edgar for the consolidation of the two erven, rezoning of the property from single residential to a group-housing development to accommodate five subdivided units, as well as a departure from the zoning scheme to allow a height relaxation from 8m to 9,75m and the provision of communal open space.

The 2018 tribunal stated that approving the development proposal may set an unsustainable and undesirable precedent in respect of the other vacant erven in the area, and that the site and area does not lend itself to a group housing development.

On 22 June 2020, Knysna Mayor Elrick van Aswegen, who is the Knysna Municipality appeals authority and thus has a veto right, revoked the previous decision and approved the application, citing that the tribunal's decision "did not take all relevant considerations into account, and/or alternatively the decision was materially influenced by incorrect information or by taking irrelevant considerations into account".

Concerns
The concerned residents, who asked to remain anonymous, said the development would increase traffic flow and congestion in the area.

"Allowing the five units to be built will increase noise levels, there will be lack of privacy and all surrounding homes will be affected, properties will be devalued. The height deviation will have a serious impact and crime will increase when construction is in progress," said one. 

Another said the owners of the surrounding properties were not notified of the appeal. "This is a further indication that we, the neighbours, are being caught with our pants down," he said.

Accommodating
Edgar said before submitting plans to Council he had consulted with local estate agents to find out what type of dwellings people wanted. "What we are building is in line with modern requirements. Neighbours are invited to work with us on the final layout and design.

"We will accommodate as far as possible their requirements and suggestions," he said. According to Edgar, one of the neighbours asked him to plant trees to screen the units from his bedroom window view. "And this we will do."

He undertook to keep construction hours within neighbours' suggestions to cause as little inconvenience as possible. "I am not a property developer, I am just an ordinary person trying to make good on the loss off two properties in the Knysna fires with all the trauma, heartache and financial loss that has caused."

Decision final
Van Aswegen said his decision to overturn the tribunal's decision was guided by professionals from the provincial and local governments. "I engaged with the objectors and the applicant and based on the information I got from them and the professionals, I took the decision."

He explained that the law allows him to take an objective decision, which he did. "I had meetings with the objectors and I visited the site. There is nothing that can change the decision."

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