In this regard, the Sandton Central Management District employed Urban Genesis to undertake a piece of work related to the above. Before this could take place the following sequence of work (carried out by different parties unrelated to the SCMD) had to take place. This work included:
- the preparation of Gautrain Station precinct development scheme;
- the modelling of commuter access patterns and demand;

Once this was completed, Urban Genesis on behalf of the SCMD liaised directly with the City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) to begin work on the Urban Development Framework (UDF) for the area.

The JDA was mandated by the CoJ to do the planning in Sandton Central and other Gautrain nodes with respect to infrastructure requirements. The JDA agreed in principle to enter into a JV with the SCMD to undertake planning jointly. The JDA has agreed in principle to match the private sector financial contribution and bring the Gautrain station precinct into the scope of work as well as traffic and transport planning. Urban Genesis drafted the SCMD proposal to JDA which was formally submitted to the JDA.

The JDA secured the appointment of technical team to produce Gautrain precinct plan and approved the detailed work plan. The SCMD appointed the consultant team for various part of the work and the SCMD project manager (through KUM) set up project monitoring and reporting arrangements and commenced with work.

In July 2006 Urban Genesis completed and circulated the Draft Final Urban Development Framework (UDF) document for the Sandton Node. The findings of the UDF, in the form of a detailed set of proposed projects, were presented to the SCMD for feedback and discussion.

The SCMD agreed in principle to the list of projects suggested for implementation. The SCMD agreed also to retain the services of Urban Genesis over a period of 6 months for the development of a detailed programme of work for implementation of these projects. The Terms of Reference for the preparation of the Programme of Work was submitted to the SCMD for agreement and the set of projects were also presented to the City of Johannesburg's representatives in order to secure a sign-off to proceed to implementation from the Planning Department.

This Programme of Work includes:

• Prioritizing of proposed projects for implementation
• Detailed planning of each project to include project scheduling and work plans; detailed costing; identification and composition of project team; preparation and administration of contracts; preparation of project approach; facilitation and negotiation between the SCMD and the CoJ Planning
• Facilitation by Urban Genesis between the City of Johannesburg Departments and the SCMD regarding roles and sharing of responsibilities as well as funding strategies for each project.
• Within this programme of work were three project categories namely:
• Improvements to the public environment in Sandton including streetscape and open spaces.
• Improvements to traffic, public transport facilities and pedestrian access.
• Improvements in town planning systems, information and bulk infrastructure and services.

These projects have each been detailed and costed at an estimated R500 million. At present the SCMD is initiating negotiations to enter into an agreement with the City in order to accelerate and coordinate the implementation of the projects. Through this agreement with the City the SCMD will seek to:

• Develop innovative mechanisms for financing the public environment and infrastructure upgrading projects in the node and to ensure that the upgrades are competently delivered in time for 2010.
• Engage in a participatory planning process to review projects proposed and expedite development.
• Request the ring-fencing of engineering service contributions by the City to ensure that these funds are used to address the impact of new developments and growth in the Sandton Node.
• Achieve an agreement with the City to finance, from its own capital budgets, long term bulk infrastructure projects needed to support the growth of the node.

This partnership agreement will require the financial contribution of property owners in the Sandton Central Node.

The Role of Akanya

While the SCMD was working on this, the City of Johannesburg contracted Akanya to develop Urban Development Framework Discussion Documents for all the key nodes in the City. This work was contracted independently of the work done by the management district but the SCMD through KUM were actively commented on and were involved in the interpretation of this framework into actionable plans based on the planning work that the SCMD had already done in the area.

The comment made by the SCMD aimed at ensuring that development proposed for the Sandton Central node minimize risk and loss and maximize amenity to create an exceptional experience of the node for all users.
Some of the comment made included detail on:

Nodal Boundaries:

The SCMD welcomed the upgrading of streets in Sandton to support pedestrian mobility and encourage walking in the node. It suggested that the boundary demarcation proposed in the framework consider factors that affect density proposals and mobility such as:
- Topography,
- Transport catchment areas and feeder routes
- Existing nature of surrounding suburbs
- In addition, most importantly, the location and capacity of bulk infrastructure and services

Densification

The SCMD suggested that this be looked at not only in conjunction with the establishment of the Gautrain Station and adjacent multi-modal transit hub a thorough examination of the existing property market as well as expected tenants and occupiers of new space in the area.

Infrastructure and Services

The SCMD commented on the need to examine the current capacity of Infrastructure and bulk services currently serving the node and the quantum of projected future demand for bulk services in order to support the proposed increased densities. The SCMD believed the Framework requires a master-plan for addressing infrastructure and services in the future to create the capacity needed to allow for densification and developments in the node.

Land Uses

The need to encourage a mix of land uses in the node was acknowledged and supported by the Sandton Central Management District. It is hoped that this will go some way to addressing the need in the area for public and social amenities.

Public Space

The SCMD has various initiatives underway to prioritise the development of adequate user-friendly green spaces in the node. The SCMD feels that the proposed Urban Development Framework needs to make more mention of specific implementable ways in which to upgrade the existing open spaces within Sandton Central and to develop new ones.

Transportation

The SCMD felt that the framework needs to address the wider network of roads that serve the Sandton Central Node. Previous studies conducted on the Sandton Central Node have demonstrated that the real problems of congestion and access to the node are experienced on the feeder routes to the node, peripheral to the nodal boundary.

A further concern is that the framework document should incorporate and integrate the plans and designs for the new Bus Rapid Transit Routes that are planned for the Sandton Central Node.

Implementation

The SCMD asked for more information on the timeframes and details of implementation of the proposals made in the framework document.

Current Status

The UDF was approved by the City of Johannesburg in June 2008. The city and the SCMD will be co-operating on the following:

• The development of a transportation strategy for the Sandton area defined in the Development Framework
• The development of a monitoring and evaluation system for Sandton
• An assessment of existing infrastructure and the development of a Master plan for infrastructure and services upgrading in Sandton
• On going collaboration and administration structures to ensure the implementation of the Sandton Urban Development Framework
• BRT/ Gautrain station design in Sandton
• Coordination of informal and formal public transport
• An open space strategy for Sandton
• Development of themes for different districts and Gateways to Sandton
• Coordination of service provision and maintenance through an asset audit

As of September 2008, the SCMD contracted Urban Genesis to carry on its work in representing the SCMD in the liaison with the City and the property owners. The descriptions of the work that will be carried out over the next year include the finalisation and possible implementation of:

• Traffic and transportation plans identified by CoJ in the final Urban Development Framework (2008) for Sandton node by the City of Johannesburg
• Open Space policy framework and implementation projects
• Public environment and infrastructure upgrades in Sandton Central node
• A performance monitoring system for the node
• The upgrade of Maude Street

In details, the work process for project finalisation and possible implementation is as follows:

Agree Terms of Reference for:

a. Transport Strategy, integrating public and public transport, including BRT to land use management policies and including traffic model and travel demand management policy
b. Integrated Infrastructure plan
c. Open Space policy, and
d. Monitoring and Evaluation system for SCMD

• Appoint technical team to implement work as defined and implement planning work including identification of projects and intervention for financing and implementation. The output for the work is a budget for each project identified.
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• Agree legal and financing arrangements between CoJ, SCMD and its members, and funding agency.

Maude Street upgrade work process:

• Secure funding commitment from SCMD for development of public environment Concept and budget
• estimation
• Appoint urban design/architectural team in consultation with property developers on Maude Street and with SCMD Planning Committee
• Develop Concept and budget for upgrade and propose a model for financing and apportionment of project cost to Property owners and developers in Maude Street

Added to the above this work will also:

• Formulate the Terms of Reference for the work set out above and facilitate agreement between SCMD board and the relevant CoJ departments.
• Formulate and establish structures for on-going collaboration between SCMD and CoJ.
• Identify, appoint and oversee work of professional capacity to develop Terms of References and to develop and cost urban design concept for Maude Street.
• Facilitate negotiations and motivation to the City of Johannesburg as well as its Municipal Owned Entities (such as City Power, Joburg Water) for the ring-fencing of the Engineering Service Contributions (ESC), payable on new developments within the boundaries of the SCMD, with the intention that the funds raised from the ESCs will be used to finance the proposed infrastructure and environment upgrades in Sandton Central.
• Negotiate with the City to set up an agreed method of financing proposed infrastructure and environment upgrades for implementation in Sandton Central.