Lynnwood Glen Residents Action Group

This is amongst the documents Dawie handed over to me – do there rights still hold? Maybe we should try and follow up as they support all actions? 

PROTECTION OF OUR RESIDENTIAL RIGHTS

Pursuant to the LGRAG’s AGM in November 2004 and its aim to promote unhindered residential living conditions to you as resident ( as is your right under the Constitution and Bylaws), and on  request of the Ward 42 Committee ( under which Lynnwood Glen  falls ),  we want to bring the following  Council matters of specific  interest  to your attention.  

 In order to stem illegal businesses in residential areas, the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality has created the Development Control Unit who after their investigation on illegal businesses,  serves eviction orders to all illegal land use owners.  If an erf is zoned residential it may only be used for residential purposes.  Home undertakings may only use 60m2 (and with special permission 30%) of the floor space of the residential unit for the home undertaking.  The owner of the home undertaking must live in the house and only two people may work in the undertaking. There are a number of illegal businesses operating in Lynnwood Glen and a survey is being conducted with a view to assist the Development Control Unit in taking these businesses to task.

 The residential character of Lynnwood Glen is protected through the agreement reached under the Pretoria East Mobility Study (PEMS).  This  public participation process was inclusive, transparent and in accordance with the directives of the Environmental Conservation Act (1989) and the Development Facilitation Act (1995).   As a result of our community input the Municipality has an agreement with the residents of Lynnwood Glen to honour the agreements reached in the PEMS.    

 As a result of the PEMS, the Menlyn Node Spacial Development Framework (MNSDF) was compiled by the Council This policy document addresses  specific land use developments within the Menlyn Node.  This is in order to address the development of the Menlyn Node area in a coordinated, harmonious manner.  The MNSDF serves as a management framework to also guide and direct future land use changes within thedevelopment edge of the Menlyn Node.   The only properties in Lynnwood Glen which fall in the development edge of the Menlyn Node are erven 85 – 91 in Ingersol Road west and erven 97- 100 and 136 -142 in Kelvin Street (south side of Kelvin Street).  The Kelvin Street properties when rezoned (after the completion of the doubling of Atterbury Road between the N1 and Genl Louis Botha Drive) whenever that takes place, will be fenced in by walls and  can then only be accessed from Atterbury Road.  No other residential properties in Lynnwood Glen can thus be used or zoned for businesses.

Some considerable time has lapsed since the MNSDF has been adopted and it would seem opportunist developers still try to get a foothold into the Glen. That’s why we count on your support to PLEASE report what looks like illegal business activity or Notice Boards on fences that point towards a possible rezoning of land use. We count on your support since we have to tackle these at the embryo stage.

 A number of building activities have been noted recently in Lynnwood Glen. Residents must please take note to apply beforehand to the City Council for any changes and additions to their properties, specifically as concerns a second dwelling,  to respect Council  building regulations. The cost of non-compliance can be severe. A City Council approval is required apart from an obligatory notice of such change in two local news papers and a notice board being  posted on the fence of the said property. 

 The dirtying of our residential streets by illegal notice/selling  posters, non removal of building debris on sidewalks and illegal informal trade is receiving attention. The Council will now  penalize building debris at R3/sqm.

 The Metro Council advised that the development of so-called communes( more than one family living in one dwelling) is prohibited. Residents are asked to report such occurrence  in Lynnwood Glen to the LGRAG

 St Albans College will be staging a rock concert on 5 March: 18H00 – 23H00 to raise funds for the Tsunami victims. The LGRAG had a meeting with the College to point out the disturbance such  noise will  cause in the Glen and requested the College  to  do everything possible to mitigate the noise levels. Complaints  can be directed at Tel : 082/374 7557   or registered at at anyone of the above Committee Members. 

Mr Pieter Korkie 

Chairman

Committee member : Ward 42