The City of Windhoek (CoW) is working on new policy frameworks which will result in the capital city creating mixed-use developments and increasing informal trading spaces.
“As is the case in many cultures in the world, the practice of utilising a single property for the purpose of both residential and commercial use will in the future no longer be a discretionary additional right (temporary). But it is proposed, as a primary and permanent land use, under the new Spatial Development Framework currently nearing completion,” the municipality said.
The local authority said a new land-use zoning will be introduced under its plans, which will allow property owners to potentially generate an income from their residential property, but pursuant to the drive towards densification, will also allow for the subdivision and potential selling off a portion to generate the necessary capital for further development.
The municipality indicated it was also in the process of crafting a new informal trading master plan intending to increase much-needed informal trading spaces in Windhoek.
“For those who do not wish to join the formal trading sector, the City of Windhoek is currently crafting a new informal trading master plan intending to increase much-needed trading space for informal traders in suitable locations where basic amenities can still be offered to residents, without the need to adhere to formal trading requirements or cause conflicting land use issues.”
CoW said it did not have plans to shut down home shops, but “it has every intention of adequately providing for the social and developmental needs of its residents through constantly improving and adapting planning policies in favour of a balanced and sustainable society.”
The city fathers reiterated that they have no intention of blocking residents who are striving towards economic freedom.
“To date the practice of providing planning permission, for amongst other home shops, has been granted in terms of the Resident Occupation mechanism contained in the Town Planning Scheme. The scheme as a regulatory framework is explicit in that any activities so allowed shall never alter and/or interfere with the principal residential nature of the property or adjacent properties and at all times maintain the character of the area under consideration,”
The municipality noted that the creation of the policies will allow for a clear policy guidance, reducing inconsistent application and conflicting decisions.
“In the absence of a clear policy statement, the evaluation of development proposals may raise critical development issues for which no policy guidance is available, resulting in inconsistent and conflicting decisions. In other words, well-crafted policies provide the framework within which the development planning and control process can take place.”
“In the absence of a policy framework, CoW sees that such will leave loopholes in the development of the controlling system with little accountability, as such will only be left in the hands of the evaluating official at his own discretion.”
