MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Mossel Bay Council approved the recommendation that the draft Parking Policy for the central business district is adopted and that the necessary public participation process should follow.
The policy will be referred to the council for final consideration after the public participation process.
The purpose of the policy is to enable a comprehensive approach to the provision and management of parking in the central business district (CBD).
The policy aims to provide guidelines for the assessment of parking supply provision as stipulated in the Municipal Planning By-Laws for expanding businesses, property redevelopment by changing the land uses within the existing buildings and additional residential components to existing businesses in the CBD.
The draft policy was presented to representatives of the Mossel Bay Business Chamber and the Mossel Bay Central Improvement District (CID), which could circulate the policy to their members for comment. The closing date for comments was 11 August and no comments were received from either of the organisations.
The Mossel Bay Spatial Development Framework (MBSDF) and Mossel Bay Central Precinct Plan (MBCPP) propose the addition of more business and general residential uses to strengthen the CBD node as a vibrant business and tourist hotspot.
The CBD of Mossel Bay is, however, characterised by historical residential and business buildings which are mainly constructed on property boundaries with limited or no on-site parking space available.
Parking requirements, therefore, limit the future expansion in some areas of the CBD, as they will put more pressure on the already optimally utilised on-street parking system. The result is that the urban restructuring goals set in the applicable policies cannot be achieved.
Assessments were made of the use of the current available on-street parking provisions in the CBD of optimally utilised and underutilised on-street parking as well as optimally utilised and underutilised public parking areas. Maps have been produced and will be reviewed and will evolve as the CBD urban form and utilisation change.
The survey of the utilisation of on-street parking bays and public parking bays will guide the evaluation process of development proposals in the CBD concerning parking requirements.
This policy will enable informed decision making regarding future expansion and redevelopment in the CBD since an ad-hoc approach to evaluate and development proposals will have a detrimental impact on the entire functioning of the CBD.
*For more on what transpired at the monthly council meeting on 30 September, click here.
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