XN000022-1984-07-23 — Page 9

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MONDAY, JULY 23, 1984

BOARD MEMBERS GIVEN RUN DOWN ON PLANNING PROCESS

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THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD WAS TODAY GIVEN A VERY DETAILED RUN-DOWN ON THE PLANNING PROCESS FOR URBAN COUNCIL CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS.

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THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, MISS ELLE SHUM, EXPLAINED TO BOARD MEMBERS THAT PROJECT PLANNING WAS A COMPLICATED AND TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS OFTEN INVOLVING UNCERTAINTIES AND THEREFORE REQUIRING FLEXIBILITY.

SHE EMPHASISED THAT TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS INVOLVED WERE THE ACTUAL AVAILABILITY OF THE SITE WHICH IN MANY CASES MIGHT HAVE BEEN ZONED FOR THE COUNCIL'S USE BUT IN ACTUAL FACT STILL BE OCCUPIED BY PRIVATE PROPERTIES AND SQUATTERS WHO HAD FIRST TO BE CLEARED AND THE LEAD TIME NECESSARY FOR ESSENTIAL

PREPARATORY WORK.

THIS LEAD TIME WAS THE PERIOD FROM THE TIME WHEN THE FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED ON THE SITE WAS DRAWN UP, TO THE TIME WHEN ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION BEGAN ON SITE.

+URBAN COUNCIL PROJECTS, AND GOVERNMENT PROJECTS FOR THAT MATTER, ARE DIFFERENT FROM PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS IN MANY RESPECTS INSOFAR AS THE PLANNING PROCESS IS CONCERNED, + SHE SAID.

+ THE RESOLVE TO UNDERTAKE FULL CONSULTATION WITH ALL CONCERNED AND THE NEED FOR PROCEDURES FOR FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL NECESSARILY DICTATE LONGER LEAD TIME AND MORE PROCEDURAL STEPS TO TAKE SUCH PROJECTS THROUGH THE VARIOUS PLANNING STAGES.

+ FROM EXPERIENCE, CAPITAL PROJECTS NORMALLY REQUIRE A TIME SP AN OF THREE TO SIX YEARS FROM INITIAL PLANNING TO COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION, DEPENDING ON THE SCALE AND COMPLEXITY OF INDIVIDU AL PROJECTS.

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+HOWEVER, MINOR PROJECTS CAN BE COMPLETED IN A MUCH SHORTER TIME SCALE OF BETWEEN ONE AND A HALF AND THREE YEARS.+

MISS SHUM WENT ON TO PRESENT THE FOLLOWING BRIEF ON THE PLANNING PROCESS USED FOR THE COUNCIL'S CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS:

/PROCESS NO. 1

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