Spatial Development Framework for Drakenstein Municipality Executive Summary 1. Overview of the Municipal Area The Drakenstein Municipality covers an area of approximately 1 538 square kilometers with a total population of 217 094. It includes vast tracts of nationally important agricultural land, nature areas and natural assets such as the Cape Lowlands Renosterveld, the Hawequa and Limietberg mountain ranges, the Berg River and Paarlberg mountain. Paarl/Mbekweni is the major urban center in the municipality followed by Wellington, Saron and Gouda. These centers are locked in a settlement hierarchy that includes the farms and rural villages/hamlets across the municipality. 2. The aim of the Drakenstein Spatial Development Framework In facing the challenges confronting the municipal area, the primary focus of the Drakenstein Municipality through this Spatial Development Framework (SDF) should be geared towards: ° The alleviation of poverty through the spatial restructuring of the municipality over time and in so doing redress the imbalances created through the system of apartheid; ° Reversing the practice of locating the poor away from opportunities, facilities and places of employment in dormitory suburbs on the urban fringe; ° Increased densities and a compact urban environment that will spread the benefits of urban living to a wider section of the population; ° Increased accessibility to existing and new services, infrastructure and opportunities to enhance the overall quality of life of communities; ° Providing new and reinforcing existing opportunities for economic development and spreading the benefits thereof to a large majority of the population; ° Protection of the natural resource base of the municipality; and ° Protection of the agricultural resource base of the municipality. The Drakenstein Municipality Spatial Development Framework (SDF) is compiled in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Structures Act, 2000 (Act 32 of 2000). The SDF is a sectoral plan of the Drakenstein Municipality Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and has as its main purpose to provide general direction in the creation of integrated and sustainable areas. The SDF therefore includes: ° A spatial analysis of the Municipality; ° Spatial development principles; and ° Maps indicating the spatial objectives and strategies that inform land use management in the municipality. This SDF aims to give strategic direction to achieving the above on a spatial level. The Drakenstein SDF is therefore a strategic document and as such has strong linkages to the Drakenstein Municipality Integrated Development Framework (IDP) and the Municipal Budget. The Drakenstein Municipality IDP, as its core strategy, aims to address poverty through economic prosperity and social wellbeing and has identified key priority areas for intervention: • Housing; • Local economic development and job creation; • Social infrastructure and basic services; and • Community safety. 3. Focus Areas of the Spatial Development Framework In order to address the spatial requirements of issues identified through the IDP process as well as the spatial restructuring of the municipality over time, the SDF process has developed focus areas, planning actions and broad principles focused on these four key priority areas. Focus Area Broad Issues Specific location Planning action Broad principles Spatial development Threat to valuable All areas Delineate and enforce urban edge ° Shift emphasis from mobility to agricultural land maximizing access; Urban sprawl Paarl/Wellington/ Delineate and enforce urban edge ° Non-motorised modes of transport Mbekweni Consider higher density residential ° Integration of different modes of development movement Infill opportunities ° Maximize the use of the existing railway infrastructure to increase Urban Paarl/Wellington/ Identify areas for urban renewal choice; degeneration, loss Mbekweni projects ° Creating new and maximizing existing of image opportunities along high movement Spatial segregation All areas Infill opportunities routes and mono- Mixed use development along major ° DFA principles functionality routes ° WCPDA principles Unsustainable low Paarl south of N1 Redirect development densities Infill projects in Paarl/Wellington urban areas Poorly defined All areas Consider agri-suburbs rural/urban Appropriate fringe land uses interface Inward-looking Paarl/Wellington/Mbek Use major routes as “gateways” neighbourhoods weni Residential development to face onto major routes Poor accessibility to Historically Identify areas of need facilities/services disadvantaged areas Identify land for community facilities Pressure of All rural areas See “conservation” below agricultural development on conservation areas Focus Area Broad Issues Specific location Planning action Broad principles Economic development & Sustained All areas Develop Economic Development ° Support small business initiatives job creation economic growth Strategy ° Public works programs ° Urban regeneration ° Strategic sites for high intensity mixed Unsustainable non- Provide specific guidelines for the use development viable farming units subdivision of agricultural land ° Proximity of development to poor communities Segregation of uses Urban areas Integrate public transportation modes ° New developments must not negate increases need for Mixed use development at strategic viability of existing CBD’s etc and extent of locations (most accessible points) ° Promote informal trading activity movement where appropriate Lack of formal All areas Develop Economic Development ° Promote skills development initiatives economic Strategy development Identify land for local economic opportunities in development initiatives historically Plan and use all vacant and under- disadvantaged utilized land and promote its communities development for the most urgent land use requirements Allow use of residential and agricultural premises for occupational practice, business and tourism uses that do not create nuisances in identified special areas without the need for land use applications Poor/lack of Urban areas Identify informal trading areas informal trading Identify land for infrastructure infrastructure development Set up frameworks for the use of public land by communities in the creation of jobs Unbalanced All areas Identify tourism opportunities in spread of the historically disadvantaged areas benefits of tourism industry Identify land for tourism infrastructure development Lack of tourism Historically See above infrastrucure disadvantaged areas Full tourism Historically Identify eco-tourism, agri-tourism and potential not disadvantaged areas cultural tourism opprtunities exploited Focus Area Broad Issues Specific location Planning action Broad principles Access to land for All areas Identify land for land reform projects agricultural opportunities for small farmers Agricultural support All areas Explore need for cooling facilities, services and processing plants, haulage industry infrastructure opportunities not Identify suitable land fully exploited Housing Provision High demand for Highest in urban areas Incorporate results of land audit study ° Location low-income of Paarl/Wellington and identify most suitable land for ° No dormitory suburbs (“quick fixes”) housing residential development ° Densification development ° Co-ordinated public sector Increased pressure Highest in urban areas Explore improved rural infrastructure intervention through rural/urban of Paarl/Wellington provision ° Choice migration Identify land for health and other ° Justness and Transparency social facilities ° Partnerships ° Affordability Limited tenure Rural areas Demarcate land for possible LRAD ° Feasibility rights of rural projects and agri-village ° Integration population development; ° Sustainability Conduct in-depth survey to determine ° Environmental conservation exact demand; ° Cost effectiveness Develop housing implementation strategy and program Infrastructure/services Low level/lack of Historically services in poor disadvantaged areas communities New development Urban fringe Provide clear guidelines on land use trends impact management, especially in the urban (negatively) on fringe area service provision / infrastructure Limited public Rural areas Develop Rural Service Centers at transport facilities appropriate locations Inadequate road Saron, informal areas infrastructure Social facilities Concentration of All areas Cluster facilities along major routes ° Contribute to the creation of facilities away from Identify strategic land for facilities community cohesion and sense of poor communities development place Infill development ° Accessible to greatest amount of Focus Area Broad Issues Specific location Planning action Broad principles Lack of facilities in Rural areas Explore rural public transportation users rural areas system ° Shared facilities Identify land for rural facilities ° Multi-functionality development ° Contribute to the creation of Lack of access to Rural areas Explore rural public transportation outwardly orientated communities urban opportunities system and facilities by rural based communities Lack of facilities in Urban areas/ highest in Identify land for facilities development informal/poor Paarl/Wellington Cluster facilities at most accessible communities points Infill residential development Conservation Pressure on nature South of N1 particularly Develop clear guidelines for land use ° Minimal intervention areas from low management in the urban fringe ° Respect for all cultures and