LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
167
Statutory plans for existing and potential urban areas are prepared under the provisions of the Town Planning Ordinance, under the direction of the Town Planning Board. These statutory outline zoning plans show areas set aside or zoned for residential, commercial, industrial, government, institutional and other purposes. They act as important links between the government and the public, providing a guide to public and private investment by indicating the future broad land use pattern, including major public works for developing areas. Once a statutory plan is gazetted for public inspection, it has statutory effect. Under the Buildings Ordinance, the Building Authority may refuse to give approval to any plan of building works which would contravene any draft or approved plan prepared under the Town Planning Ordinance. To avoid piecemeal development or redevelopment and to encourage comprehensive urban design, suitable areas are designated as comprehen- sive development areas or comprehensive redevelopment areas on statutory plans. Under these designations, development or redevelopment may only proceed in a comprehensive manner according to master layout plans approved by the Town Planning Board.
During the year, the Board published 26 statutory plans, including four new plans for Kennedy Town and Mount Davis, Mid-Level West, Pok Fu Lam, and Ngau Tau Kok and Kowloon Bay, and 22 amended plans. It considered 54 objections to the published plans and, as a result, some of the plans were amended for further public examination. By the end of the year, 35 out of 42 planning areas in the main urban areas were covered by statutory plans. In the New Territories, there were seven statutory plans covering Tsuen Wan, Kwai Chung, Tsing Yi, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Tuen Mun and South Lantau coast.
The Town Planning Ordinance makes provision for a Schedule of Notes to be attached to each statutory plan. This schedule shows the land uses permitted in a particular zone together with other uses for which the Town Planning Board's permission must be sought. This provision for applications for planning permission allows greater flexibility in land use planning and improved control of development to meet changing needs. During the year, the board considered 150 applications, compared with 182 in the previous year. Should the board refuse to grant permission, the applicant may apply for a review of the decision. In 1986, there were six applications for review, compared with four in 1985.
Outline development and layout plans are used administratively within the government to guide development. While outline development plans and layout plans are both prepared within the framework of the sub-regional planning statements and statutory outline zoning plan, layout plans are usually of local significance and apply to newly-formed land or to areas requiring comprehensive redevelopment. They are action plans enabling land to be prepared and released for public and private development. Compared with statutory plans, they are normally drawn to a larger scale, showing road proposals and the disposition of sites in greater detail. Examples of such plans prepared during the year include those for Tsuen Wan West, Sai Kung Town, San Tin, Cha Kwo Ling and several other planning areas in Sha Tin, Tuen Mun and Fanling. Many existing plans were revised to take account of changes in population forecasts, government policies, and planning standards.
Guidelines for the reservation of land for various uses, standards of provision for community facilities, and locational and use requirements crucial to the preparation of town plans and planning briefs are contained in the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines changes to which must be approved by the Land Development Policy Committee. The document is constantly kept under review to take account of changes in government polices, demographic characteristics and other social and economic trends. Sections revised during the year were related to educational facilities, industry, utility services and environment.
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