Region A property owners and developers gathered at the Midrand Fire Station yesterday, 04 September 2019, to interrogate the City’s new land use scheme.
In the past the City had 16 different town planning schemes with differing regulations, controls and processes applicable in its area of jurisdiction.
After a series of public consultations, it became clear that a single comprehensive scheme was necessary and therefore the City of Johannesburg’s environmentally friendly centered Town Planning Scheme was recently revised and became operational in the City from 1 February 2019 as the Land Use Scheme.
Jimmy Mazibuko, a property owner in Midrand’s Carlsworld, said he was pleased with the uniformity of the scheme now, however, it needs proper monitoring so that all Joburg residents adhere to the regulations.
“The City must monitor developers and make sure that they abide by the rules of the land use scheme as they are always criticised for not adhering to the regulations and have no interest in the environment where people live.
“I am a bit worried about too much developments that are taking place in the Midrand area though the infrastructure is not being upgraded to accommodate these new developments, sometimes people occupy these developments without approvals because the developers are accused of being only interested in making money,” said Mazibuko.
Responding to claims that the City did not consult extensively, Zain Ally, the City of Johannesburg’s Assistant Director in Development Planning’s Land Use Scheme unit, said city-wide public meetings were held to inform residents about proposed changes.
Among the attendees were representatives from Joburg United for a Sustainable Tomorrow (JUST). Dave Forman from JUST raised concerns about consistency, saying that the City should be consistent in applying the rules and regulations of the land use scheme.
He said they have noted four changes that promote and improve development through various applications. The designation of Special Development Zones, Parking, Rezonings and Recognition, Protection and Management of the Environment.
The property owners zoned 1, 2, 3 or 4 can now earn extra income in the new land use scheme by building backyard dwellings on their properties.
