Change of Zoning Rules Ahead?

(9/27/2008)

Bali's Governor, Made Mangku Pastika, appears to be moving towards leading an effort for revamp the island's controversial 2005 zoning rules.

After a closed-door meeting to discuss the festering problem of private villas violating "no-build" rules in close proximity to Bali’s sacred Uluwatu temple, Pastika asked the Bali Post: "Why are we still unable to enforce provincial (zoning) rules?"

In the face of strong sentiments both for and against allowing lands surrounding sacred sites in Bali to be used for commercial development, Pastika is convening a small working team to review the Zoning Regulation of 2005. That team will try to accommodate strongly held religious beliefs in Bali and the economic aspirations of the local communities living near main temple complexes. Both provincial and regional officials together with representative of the Council on Hindu Affairs (PHDI) will be included in the working team that will examine set-back rules from seaside's, "no-build" proximity rules near religious complexes and height restrictions.

A consequence of the decision to review the current rules is that officials will probably hold in abeyance threats to demolish villas and hotels not in conformance with the current law.