Nassau, The Bahamas - The 2010 Forestry Act should come into force by July 1, 2010, to enforce the Government’s comprehensive plan for land-use.
GIS maps were presented publicly at a Town Meeting held on June 15 at 7:00 P.M. in the Kendal G.L. Isaacs Gymnasium at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Center, off Thompson Boulevard.
“Land Use maps accurately categorize how land is being used in the country so we can make more informed decisions,” said Ms. Ingeria Miller, Environmental Officer in The Ministry of the Environment.
“An integral component of the Land and Subdivisions Act 2010 is the creation of a comprehensive land use plan for the Bahamas. The map is the foundation of the plan.”
The colour-coded graphs divided New Providence in to 22 districts of either predominant or combined residential, commercial, and industrial zones. They accurately categorized technical information on how land is being used by the country through Global Positioning Systems (GPS) coordinates. The exercise documented both consistencies and inconsistencies with existing data sets.
“The methodology behind the whole team was simply to use a lot of the data sets that were existing and try to update those data sets. We got data sets on parcel information from Land and Surveys, the Department of Physical Planning, the Bahamas National Geographic Information Service (BNGIS), and the Water and Sewerage Corporation (WSC),” said Ms. Miller.
The detailed maps were analyzed and classified to determine what was developed on the land, what were the trends, and what was left to create green spaces and forestry areas.
“Zoning shapes the city and gives us definition on how our land is developed and used, which is essential for the development of the land,” said Mrs. Danielle Hanek Williamson, GIS Analyst in the Ministry of the Environment.
“As we shift from rural areas to urbanized cities, zoning becomes more essential. The classification of land is based on districts and the purpose is really regulation on the use of land, including the types, use, placement, size of buildings, yard requirements, and parking. In essence, the goal is for it to be cohesive and for all the uses to work together. Some of you are experienced travelers, so when you go to New York City and cities in Florida, you see how all the uses work together, and this is the theory behind it.”
The Ministry has future plans to upgrade graphs to the parcel level. Their mandate is first that orderly development is consistent with utility location, street networks, public services and basic infrastructure. This includes the preservation of water bearing lands, particularly in the area between Lake Killarney and Carmichael Road.
“The next phase would be to develop the zoning ordinances and designations so we can define what kind of use should be used in those areas,” said Mrs. Williamson.
“Zoning is about trying to ensure that land uses are compatible with each other and showing that communities are nurtured, developments are sustainable, as well as ensuring that it’s not just beneficial for our generation but for future generations.”
The June 15 Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday attracted an unexpected low turnout of public support. Less than 100 people attended to hear the Government’s agenda on the 2010 Planning and Subdivisions Act, which included the Forestry Act.
On June 14, the new Act was passed into law, as foreshadowed just two months ago in the Speech from the Throne, delivered by H.E. Sir Arthur Foulkes, Governor General on April 14.
