SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON SPATIAL PLANNING IN NOORDHOEK
A communication from the Noordhoek Ratepayers’ Association (NRPA)
Narratives are circulating in professional services circles — real estate agents, surveyors, conveyancers, attorneys, architects, and town planners — as well as residents, that the NRPA is irrationally obstructive to planning applications and that committee members are abusing their positions. We want to address this in this post.
NRPA is only involved in certain applications
It is important, firstly, to realise that NRPA is only consulted (together with directly affected neighbours) when an application involves a rezoning, subdivision, departure or consent application. In other words, when the owner wants to do something with their land that is not granted automatically under the planning by-law. These are instances where the character could be materially affected. All other applications are dealt with by the City only.
Noordhoek’s character is the product of civic effort
Noordhoek is what it is because civic organisations like the NRPA have worked to protect it over the years. The property values from which the professional services community earns its fees are substantially a product of those efforts. It is contradictory to profit from Noordhoek’s character while simultaneously advising clients to erode it.
A responsibility of professionals
Many applicants are newcomers, unaware of the community’s values and planning history — that is understandable. But it places a clear responsibility on their advisors. We call on all service providers to direct clients to the NRPA’s publicly available documentation before plans are drawn and money committed, and to inform them of the opportunity for early consultation. Professionals who fail to do this are not serving their clients well.
A word to Noordhoek homeowners
Some residents, who cherish the Noordhoek character, apply different standards when they submit their own applications. NRPA does not differentiate between applications and applies the same approach without fear or favour. If you are uncertain about how an application will be received, come and talk to us before you submit your application. We prefer to give you honest feedback at the kitchen table rather than in a formal process. It will save you (and us!) time and money. And when we approach you with a question if you have the required approvals, please understand this is done because we know that City cannot be everywhere all the time. We prefer to engage with you directly instead of calling the City building inspector for nothing.
Our positions are transparent and our record speaks for itself
Our stance on rezonings, subdivisions, and departures is well documented on our website. Any resident can review it before committing to plans and we welcome direct engagement.
Over the past six years, the NRPA has formally objected to only 20% of applications — not the record of an obstructionist body. We take a stand only where proposals genuinely conflict with Noordhoek’s character. Council has increasingly agreed with our positions, and we have succeeded in having City policies amended accordingly.
On unlawful development
Unfortunately, we are seeing a rise of individuals and developers taking matters into their own hands: building without approved plans, unauthorised demolitions, and encroachment on public land (verges and green belts). These are serious legal matters. The NRPA will report all such cases to the City and expects investigation and enforcement, without exception.
We welcome engagement
The NRPA is not anti-development — we are pro-Noordhoek. Reach out to us if you have questions or concerns.
Website: www.NRPA.org.za | Email: planning@nrpa.org.za