Chiang Mai presses for decentralisation of urban planning

[rooster59]

Chiang Mai presses for decentralisation of urban planning

THE NATION
CHIANG MAI


CHIANG MAI: THE JOINT Public-Private Committee of Chiang Mai province has urged more local participation in urban-planning reform, in hope of more decentralisation as a way to cope with the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Jenkit Sawasdio, vice president of the Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce, said the committee would ask the central government to accelerate legislation related to decentralised urban planning in rural communities, allowing them to take part in setting out town plans.

The private sector has suggested more decentralisation for Chiang Mai's principal urban planning to keep pace with the city's changing environment, the government's economic development, the AEC and border trade, he said. Currently, urban plans nationwide are established by the central administration in Bangkok.

Decentralisation would be proposed for decision-making with three urban planning committees: a national land-use and urban planning policy committee; a central urban planning committee; and a provincial urban planning committee. Currently, there is only one central urban planning committee.

Jenkit said Chiang Mai city needed urban-planning reform speeded up as it was facing problems attracting investment and an economic slowdown as a result of its principal urban plan not being set by locals who understood the landscape.

The problems of Chiang Mai's urban-planning development will be prioritised before the committee's January 14 meeting, he said. These problems include outdated laws.

In its attempt to solve some of these problems, the chamber had a pilot model for Chiang Mai drafted that set out four visions.

Among these visions, Chiang Mai's conservation areas and promotion zones would be clearly separated and green areas would be kept as indicated in the city's 2012 principal urban plan. Land use would be reintegrated with stations or stopping areas for a new mass-transport system with a likely land-use review for more mass-transport connectivity, while investment-promotion zones would be located in the east of the city.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Chiang-Mai-presses-for-decentralisation-of-urban-p-30275710.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-26

[jobin]

Fat chance. Those in power will work hard to maintain status-quo and keep all the money and decision making in Bangkok.

Let the people choose thru free elctions: that's the best way.

[cardinalblue]

What urban planning? When does the next city park open?

Quickly becoming a mini Bangkok...

Thai way of gov with a 99.2% approval....keep up the good work...

Edited December 26, 2015 by cardinalblue

[oneday]

"...allowing them to take part in setting out town plans..."

Wow! I could have sworn there were no planning departments in any cities.

[elgordo38]

Quote Jenkit said Chiang Mai city needed urban-planning reform speeded up as it was facing problems attracting investment and an economic slowdown as a result of its principal urban plan not being set by locals who understood the landscape. unquote. Must be true as Bangkok could not foresee the need for a new immigration office here. Talking about landscape I guess Bangkok cannot see the forest for the trees. In the article he also mentions mass transit blah blah blah this horse has been kicked to death in the past especially by City Life magazine. I guess we can expect window dressing after all its Christmas. Just another speech with no substance must be election time again. Bangkok even makes Scrooge look good.

[sawadee1947]

Among these visions, Chiang Mai's conservation areas and promotion zones would be clearly separated and green areas would be kept as indicated in the city's 2012 principal urban plan. Land use would be reintegrated with stations or stopping areas for a new mass-transport system with a likely land-use review for more mass-transport connectivity, while investment-promotion zones would be located in the east of the city.

Wow, that would be a miracle if it comes true. Congrats for those plans. Go ahead..!

[duckmandon]

Yes that's why you can open any business you like in your home. Doesn't matter what the neighbors think or whether the noise, smell or disturbance of peace upsets anyone. Residential areas are exactly that not commercial & not for industrial use.

[William C F Pierce]

If you own or lease the land you can pretty much do what you want. But if you want to promote a big new Shopping Mall or big scale projects it means they always need Bangkok's permission. Decentralisation would cut out years of delay in the planning process, so why not.