XN000022-1990-07-25 — Page 68

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 1990

66

HOWEVER, MR BARNES SAID THE LACK OF STATUTORY PLANNING CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT POWER HAD BECOME A PARTICULAR PROBLEM IN RECENT YBARS IN THE RURAL AREAS.

HE NOTED THAT FOR MANY YEARS CONTROL OF THE USE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND WAS EXERCISED EFFECTIVELY THROUGH THE LEASE CONDITIONS. BUT, AS A RESULT OF A CHALLENGE IN THE COURTS ON THE VALIDITY OF THE EXERCISE OF THESE POWERS, THIS MEANS OF CONTROL HAD NOW BEEN DISCONTINUED IN RESPECT OF CONVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND TO OPEN STORAGE AND ALLIRD USES.

"MANY OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE BREN CARRIED OUT IN A HAPHAZARD AND DISORDERLY MANNER, CREATING ENVIRONMENTAL AND TRAFFIC PROBLEMS, AND IN MANY CASES RESULTING IN INCOMPATIBLE LAND USES.

**MUCH AGRICULTURAL LAND HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO OPEN STORAGE USBS, FOR USE AS CAR DUMPS, OPEN AIR WORKSHOPS, CONTAINER STORAGE AND VEHICLE PARKS.

"IN MANY CASES THESE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE DEGRADED THE ENVIRONMENT CREATING PROBLEMS FOR ADJACENT SITES, AND THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON CAUSE OF COMPLAINT FROM RESIDENTS.

"THESE CHANGES OF USE HAVE EITHER COMPROMISED ENVIRONMENTAL OR CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES, OR MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE PROPERLY PLANNED AND SERVICED DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID.

11

MR BARNES EXPLAINED THAT AS A MAJOR STEP TO IMPROVE THE RURAL ENVIRONMENT, IN PARTICULAR TO CONTROL THE PROLIFERATION OF UNPLANNED URBAN ACTIVITIES INTO THE RURAL AREAS, THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED THAT THERE WAS AN URGENT NEED TO EXTEND THE JURISDICTION OF THE TOWN PLANNING ORDINANCE TO COVER THE RURAL NEW TERRITORIES SO AS TO PROVIDE A STATUTORY PLANNING FRAMEWORK TO GUIDE AND CONTROL PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE NEW TOWNS.

"THIS WILL ENABLE THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD TO MAKE ADEQUATE PROVISION TO GUIDE DEVELOPMENT IN AREAS WHERE IT IS NEEDED, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME CONSERVING THOSE AREAS WHERE DEVELOPMENT IS A MR BARNES SAID.

UNDER THE PROVISIONS IN THE AMENDMENT BILL, THE TPB DIRECTED BY THE GOVERNOR, DESIGNATE AREAS WHICH REQUIRE PLANNING CONTROL AS DPA'S.

THE DPA PLAN, WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM THE GAZETTING, WILL BE EXHIBITED IN THE SAME MANNER AND SUBJECT SAME OBJECTION PROCEDURES AS THE CURRENT STATUTORY OZP'S.

WHICH

THREAT,

即申

MAY, AS IMMEDIATE

DATE OF TO THE

INDICATE PERMITTED

WITHIN THESE DPA'S SOME AREAS WILL BE ZONED SO AS TO TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT ARE ALWAYS PERMITTED, OR MAY BE ON APPLICATION. WHERE NO ZONING IS SHOWN WITHIN A DPA THEN ALL OF DEVELOPMENT WOULD REQUIRE PERMISSION.

FORMS

/REGARDING ENFORCEMI