Town planners reject three requests that would have tightened reins for project
An attempt by the Democrats to impose greater planning controls on the controversial West Kowloon Cultural District project has been struck down by the Town Planning Board.
The request was one of three seeking to rezone the site from the existing 'Other Specified Uses' (OU), relating to 'Arts, Cultural, Commercial and Entertainment Uses', to the more narrow definition of a 'Comprehensive Development Area' (CDA). The board yesterday considered and rejected all three requests.
The board also said it sought an independent legal opinion from a London Queen's Counsel affirming that its two-stage planning approach was legally sound.
Under this approach, the development scheme chosen for the site needs to reflect an integrated arts hub before a provisional agreement is signed with the developer. Agreed development parameters, including plot ratio and gross floor area, are then included as amendments to the scheme.
'Members reaffirm that, given the unique nature and large scale of the development, a broad OU zone setting out an overall planning framework for various intended uses was considered sufficient in order to reflect the broad land uses and planning intention of the West Kowloon Cultural District,' a board spokesman said.
'A CDA zoning, while providing maximum planning control, might not be appropriate given the need to allow flexibility in drawing up the development proposals before finalising the development parameters for the West Kowloon Cultural District,' he said.