Cape Town - The proposed development of prime coastal land in Clifton will go to tender after the majority of Cape Town councillors voted in favour of the project on Wednesday.
The ANC, ACDP and FF Plus opposed the project during the council meeting.
The parties’ concerns included the impact on traffic and sewerage, as well as allegations of insufficient public participation.
In May, the city's council agreed to the in-principle sale and granting of rights to use, control and lease portions of four city-owned plots of land.
Proposed plans for the land between Clifton and Camps Bay included residential and retail development, as well as underground parking.
Deputy Mayor Ian Neilson said during the full sitting that many had questioned the city’s intentions and processes.
"It was very clear for me that the whole area around Maiden’s Cove and Clifton has been in a degraded state. It did not receive adequate attention from the city for many decades," he said.
He denied the city was in a rush and said they had been talking to the public since January this year.
Of the 14 hectares, four were proposed for development, while 10 would be retained for recreational park areas, he said.
FF Plus councillor Andre Fourie asked whether a developer had already been chosen.
Neilson replied that the project would be tendered.
ANC councillors Jerimia Thuynsma and Xolani Sotashe said residents were not in favour of the plans.
"This development is nothing but an attempt to gentrify… Clearly this is nothing else but an attempt by the DA to do a public legal land grab," Thuynsma charged.
In her speech to council on Wednesday morning, Mayor Patricia De Lille indicated additional public participation processes lay ahead.