Durban - Durban North residents are fed up with the increasing number of residential properties that were being turned into businesses, putting a strain on water and electricity infrastructure.
Affected homeowners were preparing to object to any proposed rezoning of properties for business purposes.
This was after a property owner, who owns a bed and breakfast, had submitted a rezoning application this week, to turn his property on Adelaide Tambo Drive, into offices. Residents have until October 31 to submit written objections to the eThekwini Land Use Management offices.
According to Mandisa Phephetha of Qhakaza Africa Consulting, the company that made an application on behalf of the owner, no construction would be undertaken but the rooms would be turned into offices.
She said that the owner had followed all due processes and it had reached the public comment stage where the residents would have their say before it could be rezoned.
“We would like to confirm that the owner has followed all due processes. “An assessment has been done on what impact this will have on traffic and other infrastructure. We are now at the stage where we will get public comment.
“The area is currently being used as a B&B and no construction work will be done,” she said. But residents said it was worrying that there had been an increase in properties being turned into businesses.
Vanessa Knight, the chairperson of Durban North Residents Association, said they had formed a group where such matters were discussed.
She said all the residents would be submitting objections with the hope the municipality would not rezone the property. She said residents were inundated with applications for rezoning, adding that there were more than 20 businesses along Adelaide Tambo Drive already.
She complained that mushrooming of businesses in the area had put a strain on the water and electricity infrastructure, resulting in constant outages of water and electricity.
“There are designated areas for those who want to do business. It is unfair for people who bought properties in this area for peace, but they now find themselves living in mixeduse areas. “We have many people who have bought properties to retire in them.
They like the areas as residential, not business. We have a dedicated team that will assist with writing objections. We will get a lawyer if we need to take any legal action,” she said. Knight warned should the municipality continue to rezone against their objection, they would embark on civil action.
Ward Councillor Shontel de Boer said she had noted the residents’ outcry at the mushrooming of businesses in the area and escalated the matter to the relevant unit in the city.
She said infrastructure was the major issue and some property owners who were found to have been conducting illegal businesses had been fined. “We have dealt with illegal businesses and some have been heavily fined by the municipality.
So we have seen an increase in applications because they are probably scared of being fined,” she said. The municipality did not comment by the time of publication.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE