Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan Outline Zoning Plan amended
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     The Town Planning Board today (May 7) announced amendments to the draft Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan Outline Zoning Plan (OZP).

     The amendments mainly involve incorporating building height restrictions for "Commercial", "Residential (Group A)", "Government, Institution or Community" and "Other Specified Uses" zones to meet public aspirations for greater certainty and transparency in the statutory planning system. The building height restrictions will preserve views to the ridgelines, with a stepped building height profile increasing progressively from the waterfront to the inland areas.

     The planning objective for Soho is to keep the height of development/redevelopment as low as possible and maintain the area as a pedestrian oriented area. Vehicular traffic should be minimised. For sites smaller than 900 square metres, on-site car parking and loading/ unloading requirements will be waived but building height restriction will be more stringent. For larger sites in the area, minor relaxation of building height restriction to cater for demand for such facilities may be considered by the Board on individual merit.

     Setback requirements are also specified in the OZP for necessary footpath and/or street widening to facilitate pedestrian movement and roadside loading/unloading activities in Soho and its immediate adjoining area.

     Other amendments include rezoning of "Commercial/Residential" sites to "Commercial" or "Residential (Group A)" and other rezoning proposals to reflect completed developments as well as designating non-building areas and specification of setback requirements to facilitate air ventilation.

     The draft Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan OZP No.S/H3/24, incorporating the amendments, is now available for public inspection during office hours at the Secretariat of the Board, the Planning Enquiry Counters in the North Point and Sha Tin Government Offices, the Hong Kong District Planning Office and the Central and Western District Office.

     Any person may make written representation in respect of the amendments to the Secretary of the Board on or before July 7, 2010. Representations made to the Board will be available for public inspection.

     Copies of the draft Sai Ying Pun and Sheung Wan OZP No.S/H3/24 are available for sale at the Map Publications Centres in North Point and Yau Ma Tei. The electronic version of the OZP can be viewed at the Board's website at www.info.gov.hk/tpb/.

Ends/Friday, May 7, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:30

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