• providing ample on-site parking bays; or • planning for landscaping to ensure a visually pleasing environment.
meet the Municipality’s stringent requirements, will be rejected. Moreover, not all developments necessarily generate vast amounts of traffic. Henk Strijdom, Land Development Management Manager at Drakenstein Municipality, offers Vars readers more insight into this matter: Traffic Impact Assessment provides for required infrastructure upgrades “Applicants (developers or businesses) are required to conduct a pre-application consultation with all relevant stakeholders. This ensures that any matters are addressed before an application is lodged,” explains Henk. If, during the pre-application consultation, it is clear that a development would generate significant traffic, the applicant must submit a Traffic Impact Assessment. This assessment determines if the existing roads would be able to cope with the additional traffic. The applicant’s appointed Traffic Engineer will usually liaise with the Municipality’s Civil Engineering Services division, or the Provincial Roads Engineer, to ensure that the Traffic Impact Assessment meets their requirements. If a significant negative impact is projected, the specific road infrastructure upgrades that need to be implemented will be tabled as part of the approval’s conditions. The developer is subsequently responsible for the upgrades. “A Traffic Impact Assessment ensures that no stone is left unturned in terms of planning,” he says.
Building plan approvals explained Once the pre-application requirements have been addressed, applicants must submit a formal application. “After an application has been lodged, it must first be advertised in the press. This requirement is in place to inform the surrounding property owners of any proposed change(s). If anyone has any objections, this is the stage to voice such concerns with valid reasons,” emphasises Henk. Next, various internal and external stakeholders (such as the Municipality’s Civil Engineering Services and Electro-Technical Services divisions, and the Provincial Roads Engineer) must be consulted. These stakeholders will advise on whether the proposed properties or establishments would need access from a provincial road, as well as on a range of other matters. “This is a crucial step in the process, as it will ensure that an area’s existing infrastructure is able to cope with increased demand; if not, the required road and infrastructure changes must first be made before the application can go ahead,” Henk concludes. For more information on investing in Drakenstein, potential investors and developers can view the Municipality’s new Drakenstein Development and Investment Prospectus or contact Yolande Oosthuizen at the Development and Investment Desk at invest@drakenstein.gov.za.
Some examples of upgrades that may be required, are:
• installing traffic lights; • constructing additional turning lanes; • planning for adequate refuse removal;
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VARS | February
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