The City of Cape Town is calling on residents, businesses, and all other interested and affected parties to comment on the draft local spatial development framework (LSDF) for Sir Lowry’s Pass Village and surrounds in the Helderberg.

The draft LSDF proposes a spatial vision for the area, and once finalised, will guide development decisions and public investment in infrastructure upgrades, among others. The closing date for comments is Friday 31 January 2025.

Sir Lowry’s Pass Village is located north of the Firlands development area. The draft LSDF concerns the area bordered by the N2 highway, including Blue Rock Estate, the railway line, Old Sir Lowry’s Pass Road, Tobacco Lane, Knorhoek Road, Farm 840 and Tre Donne.

The City hosted several public engagements and workshops earlier this year, and these were used to inform the draft LSDF that is now available for further input and comment.

“I encourage residents to collaborate with the City as we are refining the LSDF for this area, which will guide development and land use decisions to address current challenges, such as the need for community facilities and open space, to plan for future population growth, and build on the opportunities to the benefit of the local communities. The draft document intends to respond to the existing backlog in service provision and accommodation. The proposed solutions, interventions, and spatial vision though must improve the local area’s resilience to the impact of climate change, and take into consideration the need to protect our natural environment and heritage resources,” said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

For more information and to comment:

• Go to www.capetown.gov.za/haveyoursay/;
• Send an email to SirLowrysPassandSurrounds.LSDF@capetown.gov.za;
• Deliver written submissions at the Subcouncil 8 office, Strand Municipal Building, on the corner of Fagan Street and Main Road; and
• The draft LSDF can also be viewed in person at the Subcouncil 8 office and the Sir Lowry’s Pass Village Library.

Public information days:

• Thursday 5 December from 15:30 to 19:00 at Sir Lowry’s Pass Primary School;
• Saturday 18 January 2025 from 10:00 to 14:00 at Sir Lowry’s Pass Primary School; and
• Wednesday 22 January 2025 from 15:30 to 19:00 at Sir Lowry’s Pass Primary School.

The draft LSDF proposes:

• Upgrading opportunities within the Sir Lowry’s Pass Village to improve general living conditions
• Provision of quality amenities
• Maintaining and improving public open spaces
• Prioritising informal settlement upgrades
• Prioritising the provision of community facilities
• Reinforcing the local village character, and establishing a vibrant local commercial/business node to serve local communities
• Review, protect and enhance the development of the scenic Old Sir Lowry’s Pass Road
• Protecting and enhancing heritage assets, and the heritage character of Broadlands farm
• Retaining the rural character of new development areas by promoting low-density residential development
• Encouraging mixed use development and medium-density residential development in appropriate areas
• Promoting destination places such as the Blue Rock Resort, Old Sir Lowry’s Pass Village Station, Farm Goedverwachting, Monkey Town and existing wine farms

“The draft LSDF has identified opportunities to improve living conditions and economic upliftment. For example, there is the potential for a mixed-use economic link between Sir Lowry’s Pass and the Firlands development area that can provide job opportunities and help the local economy grow.

“We also need a spatial vision to guide the development of vacant land, and the upgrade of informal settlements with due consideration to heritage areas that must be conserved, protected and enhanced to become tourist attractions. The same applies to our environmental assets. The spatial vision and proposed interventions must comply with all relevant legislation, among which the National Environmental Management Act to ensure we protect Sir Lowry’s Pass Village’s natural resources,” said Andrews.

The purpose of the LSDF is to:

• Provide a spatial vision and development guidelines on a local level. provide policy direction in terms of future development and the form it should take
• Guide land use and environmental decisions in support of the Helderberg District Spatial Development Framework
• Informs strategic public and private investment initiatives
• Informs development priorities
• Prioritise public investment in infrastructure
• Set implementation actions to achieve the spatial vision, taking into account the local challenges and opportunities
• Provide guidance on growth management in the area
• Provide greater focus, and does not take away or confer land use rights