The City of Cape Town will host public meetings where residents, business owners, and all other interested and affected parties can ask questions and comment on the eight draft integrated district spatial development frameworks (DSDFs) and environmental management frameworks (EMFs); as well as the draft municipal spatial development framework (MSDF). Read more below:

The DSDFs and EMFs guide spatial development and land use management on a district level; similarly, the MSDF determines the overall spatial vision for the Cape Town metropole.

The public participation period closes on 30 August 2022, and all are encouraged to submit comments as soon as possible. Also, residents have the opportunity to attend public meetings.

‘I encourage residents in particular to attend these meetings if they can. This is an ideal opportunity to ask burning questions and for officials to demystify the content, if needed. The more people who participate and are part of this process, the better the final policy documents will be,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

‘Residents are directly affected by land use, and the nature, form and location of developments in their areas. All of us who live in Cape Town have an interest in the content of the district spatial development frameworks (DSDFs) and environmental management frameworks (EMFs) because these planning policies determine what our suburbs will look and feel like ten years from now. The same applies to the MSDF.

‘The eight DSDFs and EMFs and the MSDF also have a direct impact on land owners and developers as these plans inform and guide the City’s decisions when we assess development and land use applications.

‘Cape Town is a growing city and more and more people are moving here in search of better lives and jobs. New developments – be it for housing, retail or industrial reasons – are needed to provide for the growing population. This growth must be managed in a manner that is equitable, that protects our natural assets and heritage; and uses scarce resources optimally – among which developed land, electricity, and water. Collectively, the land use and development guideline documents also improve our resilience as we are entering a more unpredictable future with pandemics, climate change, and electricity insecurity. Finally, the DSDFs, EMFs and MSDF must also align with and support the City’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) that was recently approved by Council,’ said Alderman Andrews.

The review of the eight DSDFs and EMFs started in mid-2019 with an extensive public participation process which, ultimately, led to over 3 000 comments. Those are included in the drafts that are available for a final round of public input.

The eight districts are:

Cape Flats (capeflats.districtsdf@capetown.gov.za)

Helderberg (helderberg.districtsdf@capetown.gov.za)

Blaauwberg (blaauwberg.districtsdf@capetown.gov.za)

Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and Greater Blue Downs (kmpgb.districtsdf@capetown.gov.za)

Tygerberg (tygerberg.districtsdf@capetown.gov.za)

Table Bay (tablebay.districtsdf@capetown.gov.za)

Northern (northern.districtsdf@capetown.gov.za)

Southern (southern.districtsdf@capetown.gov.za)

The district plans are important planning documents:

It determines the strategic priorities, spatial elements, and key projects specific to the eight geographical areas

Informs decisions about land use

Proposes targeted areas in need of restructuring and integration

Provides certainty to developers, communities, and City directorates

Creates opportunities for development

Provides detailed information about the population and property growth, development trends and community needs on a local neighbourhood level

Guides and informs land use and environmental decision making

The draft MSDF guides and informs long-term planning and development in Cape Town on a macro or municipal-wide level:

The MSDF’s key objectives are to establish a spatial form that will ensure that Cape Town becomes a city that is more equitable, liveable, sustainable, resilient and efficient

The MSDF also identifies areas not suited for urban development, areas where development proposals should consider risk factors and areas were development is preferred

How to comment:

The commenting period commenced on 6 June 2022 and closes on 30 August 2022. The public is encouraged to submit comments as early as possible, late comments cannot be considered

Online: All of the relevant documents, annexures, maps, and other material are available on the City’s website.

For the MSDF: www.capetown.gov.za/MSDF

For the DSDFs and EMFs: www.capetown.gov.za/DSDF

For additional enquiries, please send an email to Future.Capetown@capetown.gov.za, kindly indicate the applicable district in the email heading, for example: DSDF Tygerberg, or MSDF; alternatively, forward district specific comments to the relevant district email addresses listed above

Any agency, private company, consultant or role player who would like to meet the City’s MSDF and DSDF teams to present their views outside of the pubic engagement process, are invited to send an email before 31 July 2022 to future.capetown@capetown.gov.za to book a slot. A 30-minute slot will be allocated to present any input on the draft MSDF or draft DSDFs. These meetings will be hosted over two days by mid-August 2022.

Residents are reminded to please check venue, date and time details available once confirmed and register by 30 July, on the City’s website, your interest in a planned discussion on the City of Cape Town’s spatial trends and approach to densification.

Source: City Of Cape Town