Table Bay Spatial Development Plan and

The final draft of the Table Bay Spatial Development Framework and Environmental Management Framework (TBSDFEMF) of 2012 is one of the eight spatial plans created for each district in the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Area. Informed by the city’s SDF, the plan covers a medium (approx. 10 year) timeframe. The purpose of the plan is to guide spatial development processes through:

• Alignment with the NDP, PSDF, CoCTSDF, and CoCTIDP to inform urban development and nature conservation strategies, in line with higher level planning frameworks.

• A package of plans approach as a decision making tool.

• Delineating strategies and sensitivities as

informants to decision making.

• Providing a basis for future land use changes and public finance investment priorities.

• Informing and guiding local area and precinct plans and frameworks for detailed land use management and public and private investment.

The plan consists of two components:

Ø A spatial Development Plan, regarded as a structure plan as provided for in terms of section 4(10) of the Land Use Planning Ordinance (LUPO) (1985) and the relevant sections of SPLUMA (2014).

Ø An Environmental Management Framework (EMF), developed in accordance with NEMA Act 107 of 1998 and regulations pertaining to EMFs in sections 24(5) and 44.

The EMF is integrated as an input to the SDF in order to achieve the desired state of the environment through appropriate development and environmental

management processes simultaneously. This shows an attempt by the TBD for strategic environmental planning which is proactive and well integrated into the spatial planning process. It is a step in the right direction in terms of the integration of environmental and ecological

approaches within spatial planning, which should translate into the approach used for the local area SDF which this

research will propose in the following chapter.

The TBSDFEMF focuses on a number of strategies around urban land use intensification around economic nodes and corridor development, as well as accessibility, through an integrated accessibility grid (Figure 21).

Figure 21: Urban Land Use Intensification and Accessibility Concept for the Table Bay District (Source: TBSDFEMF, 2012)

It also aims to manage a sustainable form of urban growth and create a balance between urban development and environmental protection through protection of key

environmental resources from inappropriate development. Development edges and environmental areas as no-go zones for development are tools used in this regard. Figure 22 shows natural assets, development edges, and urban development in the district.

Figure 22: Natural Asset, Development Edge, and Urban Development Concept for the Table Bay District (Source: TBSDFEMF, 2012)

A third strategy aims to build an inclusive, integrated, and vibrant city through social facility civic precinct clustering and the creation of special destination places, linked by continuous open space systems and public links (Shown in figure 23).

Figure 23: Social Facility Clustering and the Creation of Special Destination Places in the Table Bay District (TBSDFEMF, 2012)

Socio-economic integration is encouraged through the use of the following spatial model, which illustrates the socio- economic gradient principle from the Western Cape PSDF

The Table Bay concept is shown in figure 25.

Figure 25: Table Bay Development Concept (Source: TBSDFEMF, 2012) The composite district SDFEMF is shown in figure 26. It identifies the TRUP site as a vital open space structuring element. It encourages the avoidance of development which will compromise open space linkage and

infrastructure. Low impact, sustainable use of open space is encouraged, with development that is sensitive to terrestrial systems, rivers, and wetlands. It identifies cores and buffers for environmental protection and areas for mixed-use urban infill intensification. It identifies the TRUP as a special destination place and earmarks the N5 as an urban

Figure 26: Composite District Spatial development Framework and Environmental Management Framework (Source: TBSDFEMF, 2012)

The TBSDFEMF divides the district into sub-districts for more detailed planning. The TRUP site forms part of Sub-District 3 strategy, which promotes intensification through the

creation of mixed-use developments on underutilized and developable land and the regeneration of key green open spaces, shown in figure 27 below.

The District Plan identifies various Environmental Impact Management Zones (EIMZ) and provides detailed

guidance in terms of accommodating different types of activities within the respective zones. The Two Rivers Urban Park area falls within the following EIMZ’s:

• hydrological Zone

• coastal and dune Zone (coastal risk area) • Conservation and biodiversity zone

• Cultural and recreational resources zone

According to the TBSDFEMF (2012), the area defined as the Two Rivers Urban Park, located at the confluence of the Black and Liesbeeck Rivers, provides an ideal location for the creation of a metropolitan scale park as it comprises extensive open spaces, sensitive ecological systems and habitats, significant institutions, historic buildings and cultural and heritage landscapes. The area is situated on the edge of the inner city adjacent to dense residential and other land uses. From a district spatial perspective, the proposed park is significant as it forms part of a conceptual

coast to coast greenway which links open spaces from False Bay to Table Bay.

The existing state of the natural environment means that considerable investment is necessary to enable the

establishment of a quality park. Environmental degradation and the continued demand for land together with

institutional and procedural challenges makes this a challenging project. However, the benefit that it would afford the wider community is of such significance that continued efforts should be made to realise its full potential. The park can provide recreational facilities that are of particular advantage to the wider surrounding city areas and neighborhoods where there is an under-supply of open space. As part of the park development, the rationalisation and upgrade of existing institutions on the site should be addressed.

3.3.17 TRUP Contextual Framework and Phase 1