ENG-1995 — Page 243

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

terms of land-use, building density and development characteristics, to ensure that they are in line with the planning objectives of the districts.

Statutory Planning

Two types of statutory plans are prepared by the Town Planning Board (TPB) under the Town Planning Ordinance: the outline zoning plans (OZPs) and development permission area (DPA) plans. The DPA plans are prepared for areas not previously covered by OZPs and they mainly cover the rural areas in the New Territories. Development scheme plans prepared by the Land Development Corporation (LDC) are also approved by the TPB.

OZPs are intended to show the broad land-use framework for specific areas, including the major roads and other transport systems, and provide statutory planning controls such as specific development parameters within the concerned areas. DPA plans, on the other hand, are less comprehensive and definitive than OZPs. They are interim plans to be replaced by OZPs within three years in accordance with the provision of the Town Planning Ordinance. In areas covered by DPA plans and their replacement OZPs, the Planning Authority can take enforcement actions against unauthorised development.

In 1995, two new OZPs (one replacing a DPA plan) were published, and 23 existing plans were amended by the TPB. At the end of the year, there were 84 OZPs (30 of them replacing DPA plans) and five DPA plans.

Under the Town Planning Ordinance, any person affected by the statutory plan, including the LDC development scheme plans, can lodge objections with the TPB. In 1995, 66 objections to statutory plans were lodged, and 1 582 objections (including those brought forward from the previous year) were considered by the TPB. Draft plans, together with amendments made to meet objections and unwithdrawn objections, will be submitted to the Governor in Council for approval. In 1995, two draft plans were approved or referred back for amendments.

Attached to each statutory plan is a set of Notes indicating the uses which are always permitted and uses for which the TPB's permission must be sought in particular zones. In 1995, the TPB considered 734 applications for planning per- mission and 125 reviews of planning applications.

Guidelines were formulated by the TPB to help applicants submit planning applications. The TPB has promulgated 14 sets of such guidelines. The TPB has also published an annual report since 1990.

The Town Planning Appeal Board, a body independent of the TPB and government departments, was set up in 1991 to deal with appeals lodged by applicants who feel aggrieved by the decisions of the TPB upon review of their planning applications.

Including those cases brought forward from the previous year, the Appeal Board heard 10 cases in 1995 and all were dismissed. Eight cases were abandoned by the appellants.

Departmental Plans

Apart from statutory plans, the Planning Department also prepares departmental outline development plans (ODPs) and layout plans (LPs) for individual districts or areas to show the planned land uses, development restrictions and transport networks in greater detail. At the end of the year, there were a total of 92 ODPs and 328 LPs.

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