The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee officially announced its support for the historical area of Bo-Kaap to be considered a Heritage Protection Overlay Zone (HPOZ) in a statement on December 4 2018.
The Mayoral Committee recommended to Council that it approves a public participation process for the proposal.
The Bo-Kaap is home to families who have resided in the area for multiple generations, and is renowned for its significant architectural, cultural and community heritage.
The City’s Executive Mayor, Dan Plato, confirmed that plans are in motion to make the Bo-Kaap an HPOZ.
“The City is committed to preserving and celebrating the rich and diverse cultures and heritage of our communities, and I feel privileged today to share in the Mayoral Committee’s decision to initiate the process to provide the Bo-Kaap with the heritage protection that it deserves,” said Plato.
“We [the Mayoral Committee] recommended to Council today that the City undertake a public participation process about the proposal that the Bo-Kaap be included in a Heritage Protection Overlay as a mechanism for the protection of the area’s unique historical landscape and heritage,” he added.
A meeting will take place on December 13 to confirm whether the proposal has been accepted. Initially proposed by Councillor Dave Bryant in 2013, the proposal for the Bo-Kaap to be considered a HPOZ was halted in 2016.
Plato assures the public that this will not happen the second time around: “With new leadership in place, we will ensure that there are no further unnecessary delays.”
He went on to say, “The people of the Bo-Kaap deserve a speedy resolution to this matter. This administration is committed to … finalising the proposal to protect the Bo-Kaap’s heritage and culture.”
A new round of public participation will have to take place due to the period of time that has passed to ensure that the process is followed rigorously.
Understanding the implications of an HPOZ
Zoning of an area includes both base and overlay zoning, meaning that the City must consider any alterations, consolidations, demolitions or new developments proposed in the HPOZ area.
Although declaring the Bo-Kaap a HPOZ would not prevent new developments in the area, the impact of proposed developments will be considered by the City’s Development Management Department, and only those found to be sensitive to, and maintaining of, Bo-Kaap’s heritage would be allowed to move forward.
The proposed HPOZ will apply from Carisbrook Street to Strand Street and from the foot of Lion’s Head/Signal Hill to Buitengracht.
HPOZ status does not effect the ownership, selling or buying of property.
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