Makati land use plan approved

MANILA, Philippines - Makati City has been given the green light by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) to push through with its Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) for the years 2013-2023 and its Zoning Ordinance (ZO) that takes effect on August 8, 2013.
 
“The Makati Comprehensive Land Use Plan 2013-2023 and new Zoning Ordinance of Makati are the first land use plan and zoning ordinance in the country that mainstream disaster risk reduction and management and climate change adaptation,” Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said.

“The city government really worked hard on coming up with a CLUP and ZO that take into consideration the hazards and risks in the city, so that property owners can better plan and build structures that will be resilient to particular hazards in the area, ” he added.

The certificate of approval was signed by Vice President Jejomar Binay, HLURB chairman, on June 28, 2013, and was published in a national broadsheet on July 18, 2013 together with the full text of City Ordinance No. 2012-102 adopting the new zoning regulations of the city and repealing all pertinent ordinances preceding it.  

The new CLUP and ZO feature innovative and progressive concepts that include the following: grant of bonus incentives, promotion of flexible and innovative planning developments, expansion of the Central Business District, promotion and mainstreaming of disaster resiliency, creation of livable environment/spaces, increasing mobility, designation of special development areas, and promotion of mixed and diverse land uses.

Under the ordinance, a bonus incentive of one additional floor compliant with the mandated floor area ratio shall be given to buildings in commercial zones within 200-meter walking distance from an existing rail station.

Bonus incentives shall also be granted for the development of network of green and open spaces, or iconic spaces and landmarks that would give the city a positive and distinct image.

The expansion of the Central Business District shall cover the following: a) both sides of Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue bounded by the South Luzon Expressway, Yakal St., Ayala Avenue Ext., Urban Avenue, Amorsolo St. and Dela Rosa St., b) block bounded by  Dela Rosa St., Amorsolo St., Arnaiz Avenue  and  Chino Roces Avenue, c) block bounded by Makati Avenue, Ayala Avenue, EDSA and Arnaiz Avenue, and d) blocks bounded by Legazpi St., Dela Rosa St., Makati Avenue, Arnaiz Avenue and Paseo de Roxas.

In promoting and mainstreaming disaster resiliency, developments within hazard zones (such as liquefaction and landslide prone areas) shall be required to submit an Engineering Geological and Geohazard Assessment Report (EGGAR). Medium density residential zones shall be allowed an increase in vertical height from 14 meters to 18 meters, provided that the ground floor should be designed as open area (no walls) with no permanent use.  The purpose of this is to adapt to the flooding problem. Also highlighted are the reclamation of the three-meter easement on both sides of tributaries, and designation of five meters on both sides of the West Valley Fault Zone as open space (with no further construction or renovation on existing structures).

For the designation of special development areas, a Government Center Zone will be delineated to be used primarily for local government activities, with supporting mixed use activities. Other development areas include the Special Precincts for Urban Redevelopment (SPURs), Disaster Resiliency Initiatives for Vulnerable Enclaves (DRIVE), Special Mixed Use Zone, Riverside Development Zone, and the Heritage Preservation Zone.

In the promotion of mixed and diverse land uses, complementary uses will be allowed for each zone according to the principal and accessory uses (such as columbarium and church).

The public and all stakeholders were consulted during the development and formulation of the CLUP and ZO. Public hearings were also held last November 2012 for residents, business and property owners, barangay officials and other stakeholders before submission to the MetroManila Development Authority and HLURB.

The first Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Zoning Ordinance of Makati was approved by the City Council in 2000 and was ratified by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board last August 20, 2001 under Board Resolution No. 698 Series of 2001 with an implementation period of 10 years. In 2006, amendments to the Zoning Ordinance were implemented in order to align the plan with the changing needs of the city.