At a briefing in the press center of the Almaty Mayor's Office, Deputy Mayor of Almaty, Mukhit Azirbayev, Chairman of the Board of the Almaty City Development Center, Sanzhar Izteleuov, spoke about the legislative changes adopted in terms of expanding the competence of the city's mayor's office.
In the Address of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on September 2, 2019, the Government was instructed to expand the competence of the mayors of the three largest cities, including in the field of urban planning policy, transport infrastructure and the formation of architectural image. Thus, on December 28, 2019, the Head of State adopted amendments and additions to the laws of the State «On the Special Status of the City of Almaty,» "On Local State Administration and Self-Government,» "On Architectural, Urban and Construction Activities.»
In total, 28 proposals were made by the Mayor of Almaty to improve regulation of architecture, urban planning, land relations, as well as to preserve the green fund, develop small and medium-sized businesses, manage public property, transport, social issues.
«There is competence to coordinate the activities of the subjects to implement the established in the law-approved order of the general plan for the development and development of the city of Almaty, a comprehensive scheme of urban planning of the surrounding areas, assigned to the suburban zone of the city of Almaty,» said Mukhit Azirbayev, referring to the key opportunities in the field of architecture and urban planning.
It should be noted that previously the legislative provision was not provided for the possibility of balanced joint development of the city and the suburban zone. Legislative changes will eliminate imbalances and disparities in the development of the territories, taking into account the interests and needs of both residents and residents of suburban areas. In this regard, the expansion of the authority of the mayor's office in this area will improve the efficiency of the development of social, residential, transport, engineering and other infrastructure in urban development of suburban areas.
According to the Deputy Mayor, together with the Mayor of the Almaty region, the Interregional Plan of Activities for the Development of the Almaty Metropolitan Area until 2030 has been developed. The document contains specific projects aimed at providing a growing population with housing, social services, creating new jobs, developing transport and engineering infrastructure, providing the city with food, opening new and developing existing tourist facilities, and environmental issues.
Mukhit Azirbayev noted that already this year a joint development of the Plan for Detailed Planning of the city and territories of the region is planned, within which the places of housing development and social infrastructure will be specified and their number, respectively calculated the necessary engineering and transport load.
Another competence is the approval and coordination with the authorized body of the rules for the formation of architectural appearance and urban planning of cities of republican importance and capital.
«Almaty is a city with a thousand years of history, a city of private business and capital, a city with formed historical architecture, a city of students and culture. This competence belongs to one of the priority areas of urban planning regulation, requiring individual legislative documents, developed taking into account the opinion of citizens, historical, cultural and modern challenges,» the deputy mayor said.
In this regard, the law on the special status of the city of Almaty has been introduced a rule allowing to develop and approve individual rules and requirements for the city, both in terms of the regulation and development of urban space, and the preservation of the architectural appearance of buildings. Also, elements of landscaping, lighting and created a standard, in which the formation and preservation of the architectural identity of the city will avoid imbalance and chaotic in the implementation of architectural and urban planning activities (design code).
«The new rules will also require the city administration to provide for mandatory placement at new facilities not only kindergartens and schools, minimarkets and beauty salons, but also facilities of additional education, sports sections, medical clinics, facilities of household services. This will allow the population to receive a certain number of services in the immediate vicinity of the residences,» explained Mukhit Azirbayev.
At the end of the speech, the Deputy Mayor noted that, along with the main competences, legislative changes and additions also expand the opportunities of the mayor's office in the development of transport, employment policy, improving the quality of medical care. All innovations will be aimed at the development of the city, creating a quality urban environment, improving living conditions for citizens, and developing business.
In his turn, the chairman of the board of the «ADC" Sanzhar Izteleuov said that all the planned changes will be discussed with representatives of the public and business environment, including representatives of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs «Atameken.»
