Town Planning (Rezoning & Consent Use)
Town Planning entails ensuring compliance of property use with relevant rules, by-laws, codes, and regulations. To ensure this is done, one often needs to change the zoning and or use of the property.
There are various ways in which an entity can change the zoning and use of a property. If a business wishes to operate from a property that has been zoned for residential use, they will need to either obtain Special Consent usage rights, or rezone the property. Another example would be when one wants to sub-divide a property into multiple properties, or consolidate multiple properties into one larger property.
This process can be a fairly complex process, as considerations such as density, property access, traffic, use and desirability are essential. Town Planning is implemented through an application process, which is laid down in terms of legislation and relevant Municipal Town Planning Schemes, depending on what one is seeking to achieve.
Applications need to be done in line with Regional Spatial Development Framework (RSDF), read together with legislation requirements laid down in Acts such as the Spatial Land Use and Management Act (SPLUMA) and relevant Local Town Planning Scheme.
Other aspects of Town Planning include consideration of the expanding population and urbanization, which requires one to address the need for the development of affordable housing together with effective infrastructure, all while conserving historical and natural environments.