PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The controversy around Plett's Signal Hill "eyesore ", on Erf 156 in Sinclair Street, is raging once again.

This time over a proposed luxury nineunit development by the new owner, Plett Prime Developments, as advertised in What's New in Plett, a free handout advertising publication, on 2 May.

The application comes at a time where a high court demolition order on the structure is still in place. At one stage during Covid, the then owners submitted an application to convert the illegal structure into an 18-room hotel. 

This was later found to be irregularly approved by Bitou, despite over 300 objections from residents and affected parties. This approval was subsequently reversed by a new council.

After a long and concerted effort by the neighbours, the demolition of the building was first ordered by the high court nearly 10 years ago, in 2016. Notwithstanding three failed demolition tender calls by Bitou, the condemned structure remains.

High density The most recent tender by Bitou in December 2024 was awarded on 7 March this year to SA Demolishers of Durban for an amount of R4 439 644. Now a nine-unit, high density development on the 948m² site is being put forward for approval by the new Pretoria-based owner and developer, the Feenstra Group. 

The developer purchased the property on auction for R8m in 2023. Since the details of the development application were advertised, it has raised the ire of neighbours. 

"We will be studying the application as soon as we receive all the documents," said Stuart Comline of the Plett Ratepayers' Association.

Negative impact

The objectors believe constructing nine units and associated parking on a single residential stand in the heart of Signal Hill, will change the character of this suburb and directly impact neighbours and wider users of the adjacent park area. 

It will also change, forever, the natural and historical aspect of the Signal Hill view site, a popular tourist landmark. 

The neighbours near the site are questioning the extent of the proposed development, which requires overriding most of the zoning and the building regulations.

It will also interrupt the bay-wide view from the Signal Hill view site, thereby breaching a key condition stipulated in its title deed that it is for public use. Questions are being asked as to whether the demolition will go ahead following the new application. 

Kept in the dark The demolition, lack of security and the unlawful activities on the structure were discussed in depth with Bitou Municipality and the council executive, without making progress, said Dawid Wandrag, one of the neighbours adjacent to the site.

"We were kept in the dark by Bitou Municipality about the proposed development by the new owner - and the application came as surprise," he said.

Among the concerns contained in the newly proposed application are:

• Rezoning of the site, and gifting a public municipal road leading to the development to provide access to the site, as well as parking 

• Pieces of municipal land to be "gifted" to the developers.

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