george municipality: town planning policy on house shops

Montagu Street. In Kleinkrantz, which is primarily a holiday destination, the
focus should be towards the development of social infrastructure and not
business activities. In Touwsranten, a small business node has been set
aside opposite the crèche and within designated area in the new extensions.
There is only a very small <strong>town</strong>ship in Haarlem and further business
opportunities are proposed along Voortrekker Road in Uniondale.
In terms of sustainable development principles outlined in the GSDF
document the following points are noted:
minimise environmental damage;
fair distribution of costs and benefits of developments;
respect fundamental human rights – civil and political, cultural, social and
economic freedoms, and personal security;
maximise human well-being;
identify the environmental and social costs - minimise the negative effects
of development on local communities;
create conditions for viable enterprises;
support democratic processes – ensuring public participation;
encourage free enterprise within a system of clear and fair set of rules;
ensure transparency – providing access to all information;
ensure accountability for decisions and actions – based on comprehensive
and reliable analysis;
ensure that decisions are made at the appropriate level;
3. George Integrated Development Plan (GIDP)
The GIDP’s vision is “to be the best medium sized city in the country using all
available resources sustainably to the benefit of the community in a growing
and thriving city.”
The following issues applicable to this <strong>policy</strong> are highlighted in the GIDP,
namely:
ensuring that communities feel safe and that the environment is conducive
to development opportunities;
taking care of vulnerable citizens such as children and the aged – social
assistance and awareness programmes, soup kitchens, safe havens for
street children (LED);
ensuring that the IDP is linked to the initiatives of all three spheres of
government for optimal service delivery;
addressing economic development, unemployment and poverty;
focus on the development of integrated human settlements;
adhering to the principles of good governance (responding to the needs of
the people, ensuring public participation in decision making, etc.);
allowing for development nodes outside of the George CBD – primarily
focussed along the main activity and public transport routes;
enhancing and supporting tourism development and developmental
tourism opportunities;
development of business hives (stalls, micro businesses, containers,
selling of wood, etc.) in the <strong>town</strong>ships (LED);
8