This document contains a draft Land-Use Policy that was compiled by the committee of The Walkerville Business Forum after several meetings with residents, business owners and Council officials.
Comments and suggestions either in favor of or against the proposed policy are welcome from all residents and business owners in The Greater Walkerville area. After careful perusal of these comments, a revised Land-Use Policy will be prepared for submission to the Midvaal Local Municipality together with copies of comments received. This policy, once accepted by Council, will then determine what development takes place in the relevant area as all applications for re-zoning or consent use will be evaluated by the council in accordance with these policy guidelines.
Kindly address all comments to the Chairman, Walkerville Business Forum, and drop them off in the box provided at The Walkerville Community Pharmacy at The Midway Centre before 30th November 2009.
Membership of The Walkerville Business Forum is open to all property and business owners throughout The Greater Walkerville area and indeed is encouraged. Membership application forms available from Walkerville Pharmacy, Yellowley’s, Remax, Canterbury and Thyme Square.
Steven Lines – Chairman - The Walkerville Business Forum
October 2009
WALKERVILLE BUSINESS AND TOURISM HUB LAND USE POLICY
INTRODUCTION
At a recent meeting of Business and property owners and officials of The Midvaal Local Municipality to discuss the negative effect the re-routing of the R82 would have on existing businesses, the MLM suggested that the Walkerville residents and business owners who would be affected by the re-routing of the R82, formulate a framework plan for the development of a Business and Tourist district in Walkerville, very much in line with the R82 framework plan submitted to MLM in January 2006.
AREA OF SCHEME
The development plan area covers all properties with frontage on the R82, between the P1313 (Thyme Square) to the North and R1073 (Randvaal Road) to the South. In total 48 properties are affected, with a total area of approximately 300 acres. (see Annexure A). This area to be referred to as The Walkerville Business & Tourism Hub. (The HUB).
OBJECTIVES
To formulate guidelines and policies to be adopted by the Midvaal Local Municipality in promoting the development and regulate the land use of the area to create an environment that will attract day and week-end visitors from throughout Gauteng, and in so doing:
- Create a tourist mecca similar to what has been done at Hartebeespoort Dam, Parys, Dullstroom, Clarens, Cullinan, etc...
- Ensure enough traffic through the area to sustain the existing businesses that would otherwise be detrimentally affected by the by-pass.
- Ensure that the existing rural lifestyle throughout the rest of Walkerville is not detrimentally affected by this development, and at the same time providing a shop-front for all Walkerville businesses.
EXISTING BUSINESSES AND LAND USE
Existing businesses in the area include retail shops, garage / filling station, workshop, plant hire, nursery / garden centre, estate agents, hair dresser / beauty salon, antique dealer, pubs / restaurants, electronics / surveillance retailer, engineering works, fencing contractor, carwash, specialized auto spares, auto museum, koi fish breeders / retailers, security company, furniture factory, tea garden, veterinary clinics, auction venue, equestrian centre, exotic birds & aviaries.
LAND USES NOT TO BE ALLOWED
The area is environmentally sensitive and in addition to the following list NO pollution generating uses to be allowed:
- Noxious Industry (as defined in the Town Planning Scheme)
- Transport Business
- Scrap Yards (both motor and scarp metal)
- Demolition Yards/Builders Yards
- Hostels, Dormitories
- Factories (as defined in the Town Planning Scheme)
- Panel Beaters/Spray Painters
- Warehousing
- Uses that result in high traffic generation of vehicles over 2 tons
- Second hand car dealers
USES TO BE ENCOURAGED
The following uses will be encouraged and supported:
- Restaurants, Pubs and Tea-Gardens
- Craft Markets / Curio Stalls
- Organic / Fresh Produce / Farmers Markets
- Garden Centres / Nurseries / Fresh Flowers
- Suppliers of Garden and Farmers requirements
- Convention / Wedding / Party Venues
- Pet Shops, Bird Parks, Reptile Parks, Fish Farms
- Archery Range with Clubhouse
- Sports Venues – Squash, Tennis, Bowls, Action Cricket
- Gymnasium / Health Center
- Pottery, Art Studio and Exhibition Centers “Artists in the Sun”
- Paint Ball Venue
- Bed and Breakfast / Guesthouses
- Club House and venue for Hikers / Runners / Cyclists
- Wine Cellar / Home Brewery
- Service Industry (as defined in the Town Planning Scheme)
- Offices / Professional Suites
- Dairy / Cheese Factory
- Creche / Day Care Centres
- Museum / Information Center
- Children’s Petting Zoos
- Driving Range / Putt-Putt Course
- Day Spa / Beauty Salons
- Antique Shops
- Equestrian Centres
- Extreme Sports / Waterslide / Bungee Jumping
- Tourist Related uses.
- Specialty Services / Supplies e.g. Computers, Sound System, Music Shop
GUIDELINES FOR APPROVAL OF RIGHTS
- Only non-polluting uses to be allowed (pollution to include air, water, noise and visual)
- All relevant by-laws be adhered to (i.e. building lines, building plan approval, bulk service contributions, etc.)
- A site development plan to accompany all applications
- Maximum height of buildings will be restricted to 7 meters or 2 storeys.
- Properties to be fenced to the satisfaction of the council preferably with palisade or similar transparent fencing along the road boundaries. The colour and design of the fence should be sensitive to the aesthetic appearance of the area, and to be detailed on the site development plan.
- Advertising signage to be indicated on the site development plan and to be approved by the Council.
- A 16m building line will apply to the road boundary and this area to be landscaped to the satisfaction of the Council.
- Applications to be supported by the W.B.F.
SUMMARY
The existing R82 is a Provincial Road and therefore the Council cannot, as per their by-laws, maintain or upgrade the road in any way whatsoever. It is also unlikely that Province will do anything to improve the aesthetics of the road verge, which leaves the community, to do what they can within the ambits of relevant by-laws to make the route through Walkerville as clean and attractive as possible.
Pursuant to these objectives, the W.B.F. started the clean-up by enlisting the help of local businesses and upgrading the vacant plot at the 4-way stop. This has already made a marked difference at the intersection and is a compliment to the commitment and willingness of the community to get involved.
We now also have a team of cleaners, sponsored by the W.B.F. who will be cleaning the R82 verge from Plantation Road to Thyme Square on a weekly basis. Never again must the road through Walkerville be an embarrassment to local residents because of the amount of accumulated litter. The first Clean-up in August arranged by the Walkerville Agricultural Society and supported both financialy and physically by members of the W.B.F. resulted in approx 730 bags of litter picked up in one morning.
It is the intention to have the road verge on both sides of the R82 leveled and, or contoured for storm water drainage, in order to eliminate the hills, bumps and dongas along the road. This will enable the easy cutting of grass which will again enhance the overall appearance of the road through Walkerville.
As the leveling of the verges progresses we would like to start, together with local businesses, residents and the council, an indigenous tree planting campaign along both sides of the road. The Midvaal Chamber of Commerce have already offered to donate the first batch of trees, and some of the local nurseries have agreed to make trees available for this project at cost. Here we would like to ask the relevant property to get involved and contact the W.B.F. if help is needed in grading the verge and planting of trees.
Signs will be erected at both ends of the Hub, which again have been sponsored by a local business, to help to promote awareness of The Walkerville Hub.
The Council, through their consultants, have started negotiations with province to have the R82 de-registered as a provincial road as soon as the by-pass is completed through Walkerville. The expected starting date for work to commence on the by-pass is now set for July 2010 with a completion date estimated for 3 years later.
It is the Council’s intention that once the road falls under the control to develop traffic circles with raised gardens and water features – instead of 4-way stops, cyclist/pedestrian tracks and possibly even a bridle trail along the route. The entire route would then be ideal for annual night markets, exhibitions, night parties etc, similar to the Annual Makita held in Meyerton.
Walkerville is our “Home Town” and truly is Gauteng’s best kept secret. Be Part of it and help the W.B.F. in promoting development in an orderly fashion and in such a way that everyone can benefit without losing the tranquility and rural character of the area.
We are particularly interested to know who is using their property for agricultural purposes and what they are producing.
The Forum Committee is as follows:
Steve Lines – Walkerville Pharmacy – Chairman - (011) 949.2329 or 083 703 7368
Dennis Ryder – Ward Business Representative – Vice Chairman
Oonagh Popkin – Yellowley’s – Treasurer - (011) 949.1892
Steve House – RE/MAX Gateway – Secretary - 082 627 3134
Dave Urwin – Thyme Square - (011) 949.2110
Mark Newson – Canterbury Country Restaurant - (011) 949.1343
Gary Tuchmann – Tary Design
Roger Chicken - Walkerville Agricultural Sociaety