The Town Planning Board has agreed to make an exception to allow representatives of the Society for Protection of the Harbour Limited, Save our Shorelines and Clear the Air to make presentations on their rezoning requests in an open meeting.

The three cases are now scheduled for consideration at the next board meeting on August 5.  

The board said the groups' rezoning requests were submitted before the start of the Town Planning (Amendment) Ordinance 2004 on June 10 this year, and there is no provision in the law for such requests to be processed under the new statutory procedures.

In view of the wide community interest expressed and to enhance public understanding of the issues involved, the board agreed to allow the groups to attend and to present their cases at an open meeting.

This would enhance public understanding of the board's decision-making process on these cases, it said.