Harald Reporter
Harare City Council has approved the Avondale Development Plan set to transform Avondale and part of Alexandra Park from being predominantly residential neighbourhoods into areas that accommodate small-to-medium enterprises.A large number of businesses have already been established illegally in the two suburbs.
The adopted Avondale Local Development Plan Number 39 covers Borrowdale Road to the east, west and Lomagundi Road to the north.
According to recent minutes of the Environmental Management Committee, the plan was initiated in 1995 and adopted in 2007 and re-adopted in 2013. It was consequently placed on public exhibition from December 9 to February 28 this year.
Among other things, the plan reinforces the need for the development of a green city that emphasises on responsible development of the area in line with current global trends. “The committee noted that the main goal of the local plan was to rationalise land usage in the planning area by following the provisions of the Regional, Town and Country Planning Act. This would be achieved through objectives, policies and proposals of the local plan.
“The main objectives included; facilitating the practical intensification of various land uses in the planning boundary. Review the existing traffic circulation and management systems with a view to improving,” read part of the committee’s minutes.
The plan includes the re-zoning of land in some cases and accommodates provisions of Statutory Instrument 126/ 1996, which caters for small-to-medium enterprises. It seeks to enhance the environmental and aesthetic appeal of Avondale Shopping Centre as the flagship of the community.
“In its proposals the local development plan provided for the development of residential neighbourhood with the requisite social provisions such as schools, medical facilities, social centres and other social facilities,” read the minutes.
Council resolved to approve the adopted Avondale Development Plan Number 39.
It also resolved that the approved plan be placed on public exhibition for six weeks.