• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
A resolution requesting Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya to convene the Local Zoning Review Committee (LZRC) and the Local Zoning Board of Appeals (LZBA) of the City of Bacolod, was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday.
Authored by Councilor Al Victor Espino, the resolution said the City of Bacolod has an approved Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) and Zoning Ordinance that guide land development, ensure orderly growth, and safeguard the general welfare.
Pursuant to the Local Government Code of 1991 and the city’s Zoning Ordinance and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, the Local Zoning Review Committee (LZRC) is mandated to periodically review and evaluate the CLUP/Zoning Ordinance, monitor implementation, and recommend appropriate amendments and policy measures to the Sanggunian, it said.
The Local Zoning Board of Appeals (LZBA) is authorized to hear and decide appeals from decisions of the zoning administrator/enforcement officer, and to act on applications for variances, exceptions, or special uses, consistent with the standards set by law and the Zoning Ordinance, the resolution said.
The timely convening of the LZRC is necessary to assess emerging development trends, address implementation gaps, reconcile sectoral plans with the CLUP, and propose needed refinements to promote sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient urban development, it said.
The convening of the LZBA is likewise necessary to act on pending appeals, if any, and to ensure that due process is observed in resolving any zoning-related disputes, thereby promoting investor confidence and protecting community rights, the resolution said.*
