The time has come for residents to let their voices be heard before the new land use scheme is approved in council.
The City of Johannesburg wants to do away with the 13 prevailing historic town planning schemes which were developed during the apartheid era. On 29 June, the council approved the draft land use scheme, a tool that regulates the zoning of each property in the City.
Joburg’s MMC for Development Planning, Funzela Ngobeni told council that the scheme is an important tool that affects the daily activities of residents and property owners by prescribing rules related to how properties should be developed and used. The public consultation campaign for the draft scheme is the next step to its final approval. After the public has given input on the draft document, it will be taken to council for approval.
Drafted less than a year ago, the proposed document seeks to do away with the City’s historic town planning schemes, adopted in the 70s and early 80s, in favour of a new consolidated regulatory tool.
“Johannesburg currently has 16 different historic town planning schemes; each different in their definition of land use, and prescribe different processes to obtain land use rights. But these differences create challenges for residents and the developing community. The older schemes are further believed to have been designed to separate and discriminate [against] people in terms of the colour of their skins.”
Ngobeni also encouraged property developers and land owners to take part in the development of the regulatory document.
“Emphasis in the old schemes is premised on the separation of land uses, and areas, as opposed to integration and inclusion. The prescriptions in the [different] schemes create inconsistent rules for land development depending on the location in the city.
“For instance, a spaza shop in Soweto does not require any town planning application, but in Cosmo City, the same use requires a rezoning application, which is a specialised, technical and complex process,” he said.
As an important tool forming the basis for zoning law enforcement in the City, the draft scheme also prescribes the extent to which properties can be developed and stipulates processes regarding the use of properties.
What is the new scheme all about?
- Establish new processes for land development that will promote economic development and attract investment
- Implement the City’s spatial development framework, such as the corridors of freedom which is now called the transit oriented development corridors, to provide redress
- Introduce compatible land use and lawful enforcement with respect to zoning in order to safeguard land development investment and reduce risks to public health and business confidence
- Make provision for socioeconomic zones with customised rules for development
- Ensure that land development preserves natural and heritage resources for future generations.
Dates of the sessions:
- Region A, 4 September from 6pm to 9pm at the Midrand Fire station
- Region B, 6 September from 6pm to 8pm at Marks Park
- Region C, 4 September from 6pm to 9pm at the Roodepoort Civic Centre in Florida Park
- Region D, 5 September from noon to 2pm (first session) and 6pm to 7.30pm (second session) at the Council Chamber, Jabulani Civic Centre, 1 Koma Road
- Region E, 6 September from noon to 2pm (first session) and 6pm to 7.30pm (second session) at the Malboro Community Hall
- Region F, 7 September from 6pm to 9pm at the Queen Modjadji room, Eureka House, corner Marlborough and Rosettenville roads, Springfield
- Region G, 7 September, 2pm to 4pm at the Enerdale Civic Centre.
How to participate:
The draft scheme will be open to public consultation for 60 days. Copies of the document will be available for inspection during normal office hours until 13 October.
- Help Desk, 5th floor, A-block, Metropolitan Centre, 158 Civic Boulevard, Braamfontein
- Group legal and contracts department’s legal library at the same address on the 3rd floor, A-block
- All Joburg libraries throughout the City
- All regional offices
- On the City’s website at www.joburg.org.za
Any comment on the draft scheme must be addressed to the Executive Director: Development Planning, clearly marked “CoJ LUS COMMENTS”, and submitted in writing on or before 13 October as follows:
- By hand to the help desk at the physical address provided above
- By post (PO Box 30773, Johannesburg 2017)
- By e-mail at CoJLandUseSchemeComments@joburg.org.za
- By Google Forms at https://goo.gl/forms/jsK9A1hmThMO6vYs2
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