Table View residents voice concerns over Millview development plans

Residents of Table View have raised serious concerns over a proposed development on Erf 38599, situated at the corner of Circle Road and Eagle Crescent in Table View.

They claim that the City of Cape Town has failed to adequately engage with the community despite years of objections.

The development, marketed as Millview, is being advertised as a large-scale residential project comprising more than 300 flats, 25 houses, a clubhouse, and paddle courts, with units reportedly selling from R1.95 million.

 This has angered residents, many of whom believed development plans had previously been placed on hold (“Residents vow to fight Millview,” Tabletalk, Wednesday, November 6, 2024).

Des Palm, spokesperson for CAPE of GOOD HOPE non-profit, a civic organisation with long-standing involvement in the area, said community concerns have repeatedly been ignored.

“We have signed petitions, submitted objections and spoken up at every opportunity, yet the City continues as if we don’t exist. This is a blatant disregard for community voices,” said Mr Palm.

He said, to residents’ knowledge, there are no approved building plans on record for the site and questioned how marketing could proceed under these circumstances.

Residents warn that frustration is mounting and that continued inaction could erode trust in local government.

“This is about accountability and transparency. Residents cannot be ignored when decisions directly affect their neighbourhoods and quality of life,” said Mr Palm.

Residents have raised concerns about increased traffic congestion, pressure on already overburdened schools, environmental risks, and strain on bulk infrastructure. 

Resident Cindy Welch said she raised concerns in early December after noticing a container placed on the open land.

While the City has indicated that the development will contribute R5.9 million in development fees, residents argue that this amount does not adequately address the long-term social and environmental impacts.

“We were told development plans were on hold and that no new plans had been submitted. Now there is signage advertising a massive development. Residents feel misled and ignored,” said Ms Welch.

In a statement, the City of Cape Town confirmed that no building plans have been approved for Erf 38599.

However, it said the land-use application for rezoning and subdivision was approved by the Municipal Planning Tribunal on Tuesday, July 5,  2022, allowing for 377 flats, nine group houses, and 16 single residences. 

Two rounds of public participation were conducted in 2020, during which 153 objections were received, said the statement.

The City further stated that the approval was appealed by objectors but was dismissed, with the decision upheld on Monday, May 8,  2023.

The land-use approval remains valid until May 2028, although building work may not commence without approved building plans, said the statement.

Regarding the placement of a container and advertising signage on the site, the City confirmed these were unauthorised and that a contravention notice was issued on Tuesday,  January 6.

Ward councillor Susan van der Linde said the matter was discussed at a December ward committee meeting with a Greater Table  View Action Forum (GTAF) representative and that she supported an email to the City requesting clarity. 

She said that Facebook is not an official communication channel and that residents are encouraged to contact her via her official City email address.

Tabletalk has reached out to the developers for comment, but all calls and messages went unanswered by the numbers provided for the Flandorp Family Property Trust.