uct heritage park management framework - University of Cape Town

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• The CTSDF highlights the site for ‘Urban Development’ although any application for a
change in land use rights would have to go through the necessary statutory processes
given its natural role and historic role as part of the mountain backdrop to key build
landscapes but in addition its location on the urban edge;
• The Southern Peninsula District is one of the most important from a biodiversity
perspective and the CTSDF framework sets out a number of land use management
guidelines, an important one being that the City of Cape Town needs to lead in protecting
and enhancing biodiversity, seeking to meet the National Biodiversity Targets Map. While
the site itself is not identified as part of the Core Conservation worthy sites, or the City of
Cape Town’s Biodiversity Network, it is adjacent to the TMNP and therefore has a
responsibility to help monitor and maintain the condition of the TMNP;
• The EMF suggests that any development on the site must conform to the City of Cape
Town’s management of Urban Stormwater Guidelines amongst others as the site
contributes to the productivity of the Aquifer. Furthermore all activities contemplated
within the Hydrological zone must be supplemented with activities as contained in the
City’s Floodplain and River Corridor Management Policy (2009);
• The site is surrounded by a number of important cultural destinations including Provincial
Heritage Sites and NHRA protected sites. Rhodes Memorial is the most significant in terms
of the numbers of visitors it attracts. The site must therefore acknowledge its role as a
backdrop and support to these significant architectural monuments and landscapes. It
should comply with the SANParks Table Mountain National Park Conservation
Development Framework as well as the South African Heritage Resources and the City’s
Heritage Resources Section Requirements due to its proximity to the Park and its role over
time in relation to the Park; and,
• The District SDF is shaped by a set of key strategies, one of which is based on the idea of
balance between the needs of the environment and needs of the communities who reside
along the peninsula. The central spatial idea giving meaning to this is that the TMNP and
environs must be protected as a major urban anchor, the mountain (TMNP) being the
single biggest tourism asset in the region. The implications of this are that the mountain
must be conserved, and that the publicly and privately owned areas adjacent to the
TMNP must be managed to facilitate this where possible.
The 2011 Draft of the Southern District SDP categorises UCT as “Structuring Open Space” providing the
following District Development Guidelines for Sub-District 3 (which includes UCT):
• In general, avoid development of these areas in a manner that would compromise open space linkage.
• Encourage development to respond to and promote opportunities for linkage between identified structuring
open space in developed areas. (e.g. between the Langvlei and Keysers River via the Retreat Station area).
• In general, development adjacent to open spaces, or which rationalises these spaces, should be
orientated towards the open space to encourage the use and passive surveillance of these areas. Design
which compromises this condition (e.g. excessive blank walls and backing of development onto these
spaces) should be discouraged.
• Subject to contextual informants, medium density development (e.g. 2/3 storey development) along open
space interfaces could be considered to improve passive surveillance.
• Safety and security should be considered in the upgrading, landscaping or development of public open spaces.
UCT Heritage Park Management Framework: Final Draft Report, July 2012