Council approves Westbury precinct development plan

26 February 2016

 

The City of Johannesburg’s monthly council meeting yesterday approved the Westbury Development Precinct plan, clearing the way for the corridor to be developed. 

 

The Westbury Development Precinct forms part of the Empire-Perth Development Corridor, one of the City’s Corridors of Freedom, high-density developments that bring residents closer to economic opportunities, places of leisure and public transport facilities.  Westbury has been identified in the Strategic Area Framework as a priority precinct that needed to be developed as part of the Empire-Perth Corridor. 

 

The Johannesburg Roads Agency, the City’s roads and storm water infrastructure development and maintenance entity, has already started implementing some of the key interventions identified in the plan.  But the plan faced fierce opposition from DA Councillor Susan Stewart, who accused the city of not adequately communicating it to local residents.  Councillor Stewart also claimed there had not been a public participation process to obtain residents’ views on the plan. She went on to say there was a big public outrage about the plan and asked the council to apply its mind before going ahead with the development.

 

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning Councillor Rosslyn Greeff said Councillor Stewart was inciting the community to resist the plan and accused the DA of failing to do its work.  MMC Greeff said public participation had taken place, adding that she had evidence to back that up. She accused the DA of being against stability and community development.  The MMC was backed by Councillor Sol Cowan, who called on Councillor Stewart to sit down as she did not have her facts straight.

 

Councillor Stewart said Councillor Greeff was misleading the council, saying as a ward councillor she was certain that there was no public participation.  She accused Greeff of making promises she failed to fulfil.  She said Greeff should allow public participation to take place as required by the law and the DA would not support the plan.  More ANC councillors entered the fray and asked Councillor Stewart to sit down. 

 

The Speaker had to intervene to restore order.   The plan was ultimately approved by the majority as the DA dissented.

 

The primary objective of the development in the precinct is to create a liveable neighbourhood in which residents will be within walking or cycling distance to schools, places of work and retail outlets.