A matter of policy

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Guesthouses in Nelson Mandela Bay may soon be able to expand their rooms and offerings, if a revised draft policy by the municipality is approved.

Municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said the policy, which was approved in 2004, had been reviewed in view of the development of the city’s tourism industry. Other changes to the policy include: ý The introduction of a room threshold, which is a maximum of two adults and two children per room;

• The inclusion of ancillary services such as conference facilities and pampering services, which were not part of the previous policy;
• The reference to a kitchen being removed from the original definition of a guesthouse, while kitchenettes are allowed as part of guest rooms;
• A regulation against restaurants that are open to the public being operated from a guesthouse within the urban edge;
• A requirement of four rooms being let for council approval to be necessary. Three or fewer rooms may be let without prior approval;
• A distinction between guesthouses and other forms of short-term accommodation (excluding bed and breakfast accommodation).

“The majority of the properties did not have the relevant land use rights that would permit them to offer such service,” the draft policy states. Proposed regulations include:

• That establishments be accredited with NMU;
• The property owner or a manager must live on the property with an affidavit proving this attached to the site development plan;
• The accommodation must also be along the public transport route.

The policy requirements also stipulate that townhouses permit a maximum of two students per room.

Council may refuse any applications if the conditions are not met.

Property owner Bill Anderson, who offers student accommodation, said he welcomed the policy as it would curb overcrowding by property owners.

“As business people we don’t want to overcrowd students because that puts pressure on the [infrastructure] and that isn’t good for the students’ health.”

Liquor outlets: Revised rules apply to home-based operations

[caption id="attachment_236650" align="aligncenter" width="640"] New regulations are proposed for home-based liquor outlets or shebeens. There are several shebeens in Zwide
Picture: Werner Hills[/caption]

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is hoping to establish a special committee tasked with regulating liquor outlets in the city – which will include all home-based liquor stores.

New regulations that will apply include the following:

• No house shop will be permitted on a property that has a liquor outlet on the premises;
• No home-enterprise liquor establishment may be located within a threshold or distance of 500m of other licensed establishments within a residential area;
• No licensed home-enterprise liquor establishment may be authorised where its proximity to community uses or public facilities, such as schools, places of worship, old age homes, creches, hospitals, clinics and libraries, is likely to have a negative impact on the facility or is within a distance of 500 metres from such a facility;
• No other ancillary uses, such as the serving of meals, gaming machines, television, playing of loud music, may be permitted.

Outdoor dinning: Reluctance to pay for sidewalk use

[caption id="attachment_236651" align="aligncenter" width="598"] The municipality wants to manage the use of sidewalks by restaurants, such as the establishments on Stanley Street
Picture: Werner Hills[/caption]

If the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality charges restaurants a special levy for having tables outside on the pavement, the city must clean and maintain that space.

Tall building policy: Strategy to slow urban creep in sensitive areas