World Planning Day – How does it impact you?
World Town Planning Day is about making the public aware of town planning and the effect of town planning on all of us.
By reading this heading you most probably did not even know about town planning and what it is and how it impacts on you.
It is important to note that wherever you are reading this – that specific area is one way or the other the result of town planning and work done by town planners.
Sitting in the comfort of your home you are reading this as an owner of a residential property in a residential area. Your erf on that specific area is most probably zoned as ‘residential’ in terms of a specific Land Use Scheme – and – as a result of this zoning you have certain rights and responsibilities on that property.
Should you read this at your work place you are on a property zoned for business, industrial or commercial purposes. Also in this environment you have certain rights and responsibilities on that specific erf.
While driving home this afternoon you are travelling on an important link between workplace and home – streets.
The total impact of the above is an urban/ rural setting, where specific rules govern the development and use of certain spaces. Town planning and town planners play an important role in this. This setting is also governed by an important document, namely a Land Use Scheme and legislation informing and guiding that.
World Town Planning Day is about making the public aware of town planning and the effect of town planning on all of us. All matters relating to town planning cannot be addressed in one short column – it will just not do justice to this complex and diverse field. However, some issues should be noted – the following being important:
Zoning – this determines, among others, the purpose you may legally use your erf for. Should it be zoned ‘residential’ it may be used for residential purposes only. Should you wish to use your property for a guest house, crèche venue or office for example you will need to apply either for consent or rezoning of the property.
Town Planning documentation consist of a wide range of documents.
Examples are the following:
• Land Use Scheme
• Spatial Development Framework
• Policy documents – all of which to a certain extend are used to determine what maybe done, to what can it be amended and what rules will apply.
In all of these town planners play an important role. Town planners employed at municipalities’ responsibilities are among others to ensure that rules laid down in these documents are applied.
Should you wish to apply for consent use/ rezoning/ subdivision/ consolidation of your property such advice is the role of a professional/ technical planner registered with the SA Council for Planners. It is such person’s responsibility to inform you of your rights and what can be done o you property.
Therefore, make use of the services of Professional/ Technical Planners – either those at your local municipality or those in private practice – to ensure that your dream of having a crèche, home based office, townhouse development can be executed and does not fall apart.
*Submitted by Petrus Steyn, Futurescope Town Planners, Krugersdorp – where town planning and law meets and support each other.
