Action Parkhurst
Fourth
Avenue in Parkhurst is in danger of becoming a strip of
restaurants, bars or nightclubs similar to those that now exist in
7th Ave in Melville and in Norwood's Grant Avenue.
The PVRA wants to highlight some recent developments in our
neighborhood that, if allowed to go ahead, may irreparably damage
Parkhurst, and destroy the very things that attracted most residents to
the area in the first place.
For some time, residents understood that the Regional Spatial
Development Framework (RSDF) would protect the suburb from a
proliferation of restaurants. The RSDF is an official plan compiled by
the City of Johannesburg, having the force of law, which sets out
guidelines that must be followed by the Municipality in relation to
zoning and land-use applications. Among its stated objectives, in
relation to Parkhurst, is the prohibition of encroachment of
non-residential uses into the residential area of Parkhurst, with
specific reference to commercial and business development along Fourth
Avenue. The RSDF expressly states that no more coffee shops and
restaurants will be supported along Fourth Avenue, and this objective
is fully supported by the majority of the committee of the Parkhurst
Village Residents Association (PVRA)
The problem is that there are currently a number of NEW Restaurant
applications under review with Council… with more to come!
With an increased number of restaurants comes more noise, more cars
and traffic congestion, more late-night patrons, more car guards,
greater impediments to access to one’s own home for residents living
near the restaurants etc. Also Increased numbers of restaurants have
had a negative impact on the existing restaurants and traders who, as
in Melville, may well end up getting pushed out by franchise fast-food
operations and the like.
As residents, existing restaurants and traders, we need to stand up
and protect our neighborhood from encroachment and creeping
deterioration.
If you wish to support the PVRA in preventing the opening of new
restaurant businesses, please support us with a financial contribution
towards our legal costs in fighting this. And attend our
public meeting to be held on: Tuesday 24th March [19h00] at Parkhurst
Primary School (corner 15th street & 3rd avenue Parkhurst.)
R100 and upward per home is such a small investment to make, to
protect the value of your home (which is possibly your greatest asset)
and this wonderful Village that we love living in!
If you would like more information, please feel free contact Bridgitte
Steer on (083) 604-0404 or send an email to action12@parkhurst.org.za
SUB AREA TEN
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DEVELOPMENT
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INTERVENTIONS |
GUIDELINES |
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Maintain the high residential densities in Parkhurst, with specific
reference to: |
• Minimum erf size: 500m2. • Upon provision of adequate infrastructure and/or services, the provisions of the Density Strategy, Movement Strategy and Nodal Strategy shall apply. |
| Maintain and preserve public open spaces and parks, with specific reference to: • Develop and formalise paths and pedestrian trails along the western banks of the Braamfontein Spruit. • Pedestrian linkages. • Preserve the ecological environment. • Improve access to the Spruit from Parkhurst. • Upgrading of open spaces: landscaping, security, lighting, etc. • No development in 1:50 year floodline to be permitted. |
JMOSS. |
| Prohibit encroachment of non-residential uses into the
residential area with specific reference to: • Contain commercial/Business development on Fourth Avenue to between south of Fourteenth and north Fifth Streets. • Limit land use changes to neighbourhood supporting uses complimentary to existing development. • No more coffee shops and restaurants to be supported along Fourth Avenue. |
One erf block depth along Fourth
Avenue. • Apply the Movement Strategy. • Uses to include furniture/décor shops, supermarkets, florists, medical consulting rooms etc. • Apply the Nodal Strategy. |
| Promote the pedestrian friendly nature of Parkhurst,
with specific reference to: • Provide pedestrian linkages across the Braamfontein Spruit. • Repair and develop the pedestrian environment in Fourth Avenue (repair sidewalks). • Sidewalk improvement in First Avenue West (removal of traffic circles and planting of trees). • Prioritise the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport uses. • Prohibit intensive gardening and building on pavements that obstruct pedestrian traffic. |
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| Improve east-west linkages and promote the use of
public transport, with specific reference to: • Traffic management strategy and urban design for Sixth Street, including traffic calming (not road widening). • Sixth Street is a Mobility Road and a proposed BRT Route • Prioritise public transport. • Offices (subject to full on-site parking) only to be supported along Sixth Street. • Improved public transport to Parkhurst: more frequent and better service to the west of Parkhurst. |
No further retail, restaurants or coffee
shops to be supported whatsoever. • BRT. |
