Engen wants to build a petrol station in Parklands next door to a proposed daycare.
An application to rezone 83 Tryall Road from general residential to local business to accommodate the Engen station has been advertised.
Engen spokesman Gavin Smith said the company had chosen the site because Parklands was one of the fastest growing areas in the city.
Ward 107 councillor Nicky Rheeder said there were already several petrol stations in Parklands Main Road.
“I suppose, the nature of a growing suburb is to start systematically creating convenience for the residents.”
Engen bought the property in December 2015, and the transfer went through in July the following year.
But there’s also an application by the owner of the next-door property, at 81 Tyrall Road, to rezone for a daycare.
Tracy Hope, the owner of that property, wants to set up a daycare for 18 children run by herself and two staff. Tabletalk was unable to reach Ms Hope for comment by the time this edition went to print.
But the potential of having a daycare next to petrol pumps has raised eyebrows.
Greater Table View Action Forum (GTAF) chairwoman Karen Davis said she hoped “common sense prevails and they do not allow a garage next to a daycare”.
She said there were too many daycares in the area, but a petrol station, especially one near the new Table Bay Mall, was “necessary”.
However, Ms Rheeder said that according to the City’s health department, no air-quality laws stopped a petrol station being next to a residential area or a nursery school. Likewise, she said, the provincial Department of Social Development’s early childhood development policy placed no restrictions on the siting of nursery schools next to petrol stations.
Mr Smith said nearby properties were fully aware of the development and that all Engen stations had to comply with strict health, safety and environmental guidelines that were audited regularly.
Suzette Little, mayoral committee member for area north, said notices about the application had been sent out to affected residents on Friday November 10.
It had also been advertised in the press.
The deadline for public comment was Monday December 11.
Meanwhile, she said, the application for the daycare was still being advertised.
“The health department will comment on the suitability of the property and the impact on the property, which will also be taken into consideration once the application is considered for decision. Neither of the applications has been decided on at this stage,” said Ms Little.
Ms Rheeder encouraged residents who were interested in the plans to keep an eye on her Facebook page (@Ward107CoCt ).
