Part One

1 I ntroduction

1.1 Background

The Halcrow Group together with a local team of consultants and specialists lead by the Joint Consultative Council has been appointed by the Government of Trinidad & Tobago to provide planning and development advice at national and local levels. The initial work concentrated on preparing a National Conceptual Development Plan (NCDP) which was designed to update the 1982 National Physical Development Plan (NPPD) and to serve as a timely policy document to guide physical development within Trinidad and Tobago.

The NCPD was prepared rapidly to respond to development pressures and its preparation was based on existing data and document review, and consultations with Government, the private sector and non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Its main function is to provide a framework within which Concept Plans and Local Area Plans for specific areas and locations can be developed. In addition to the NCDP, the initial Concept Plans have all been completed.

1.2 The National Conceptual Development Plan

The key stages of this work incorporated:

· A Land Use Strategy, including a planning justification of the Balanced Growth approach which has been adopted to guide national development;

· Sectoral Overview and Policy Guidelines, including an analysis of industrial and employment characteristics and other key sectors impacting growth potential;

· The National Conceptual Development Plan Proposals, including a Local Area Concept Plan Framework, in text and illustrative plan form.

1.3 Current Programme and Objectives

The current programme represents the first tranche of Phase 2 (Local Area Planning) for physical planning in Trinidad and Tobago. The main purpose is to prepare Local Area Plans for three priority urban areas, based on their respective Concept Plans completed under the NCDP studies. The second of these Local Area Plans is for the Chaguanas area, which is the subject of this draft report.

A Local Area Plan comprises:

i. a Master Plan and written document covering the whole area of study; and

ii. one or more detailed Action Area Plans, which identify critical areas for priority action.

The objectives of these Local Area Plans are as follows:

· To provide updated guidance for development control;

· To increase private sector interest in development planning;

· To identify priority public sector infrastructure projects;

· To facilitate housing land delivery for low income households;

· To enhance and protect the local physical and human environment; and

· To improve integration and consultations between concerned agencies and the public.

1.4 Approach and Method

The Local Area Plans represent a further step in a consistent and integrated process of providing planning guidance that originated in the NPDP and has been updated with the NCDP and the Local Concept Plans. The Concept Plans were designed to update previous proposals for each study area in respect of: -

· Overall spatial strategy;

· Key planning constraints; and

· Major development opportunities.

This process of Local Area Plan preparation has drawn on previous plans and reports, readily available information, some limited fieldwork and discussions with key stakeholders. It has been carried out in joint venture with a wide range of local consultants and specialists.

1.4.1 Previous Plans and Studies

For the Chaguanas area in particular, account has been taken of the following plans and studies:

- National Physical Development Plan, Town and Country Planning Division, 1983

- Chaguanas Land Use Plan, Town and Country Planning Division, Ministry of Planning and Development, Dec 1991;

- Chaguanas Development Plan 1997-1998. A Vision for the New Chaguanas, Chaguanas Borough Council;

- Scoping Study: Chaguanas/Cunupia Local Area Plan. PLANET/Dr. Michelle Mycoo. August 1999;

- Caroni Region Plan Draft, Town and Country Planning Division, 1975;

- Carlsen Field Structure Plan, Land Settlement Agency/ PACS, 2000

- Chaguanas Local Area Concept Plan, UDeCoTT (Halcrow) 1999;

Other reports and documents are detailed in each section as appropriate.

1.4.2 Scope of Work

The scope of work for this Local Area Plan is focused on:

· Confirming critical assumptions made in the Concept Plan, including current policies, programmes and major commitments;

· Preparing a robust Master Plan for the development of the area, incorporating a land use strategy and policies for key elements and which address significant environmental impacts;

· Identifying/ planning and design guidelines for selected areas including for example, the central area, industrial/ employment areas, housing areas and open space/recreation.

· Identifying priority action proposals needed to instigate development, including responsibilities as between the public and private sectors, identification of priority infrastructure projects, overall cost estimates, phasing and institutional requirements.

The method used followed a bottom-up/top-down approach to issue identification and resolution. The Chaguanas area consists of a number of settlements and land use types which were identified in the Concept Plan and previous studies. The land uses have been used as the basis for analysis and relevant issues and opportunities explored at the local (settlement) scale.

This bottom-up approach has been merged with the top-down approach identified at Concept Plan stage to ensure that local and area-wide priorities are clearly identified, for example in Chaguanas Town Centre where several issues interact. Using this approach will also help discussion of issues during the consultation and later public participation phase of this study.

1.4.3 Some Limitations

At the time of writing, data from the 2000 Census data were not available for analysis and the proposals put forward in this report will need to be reviewed in the light of this new data when published.

It is also worth noting that the physical planning actions discussed here will need to be integrated with other measures to optimise impacts: such as education and health, and community development. By identifying key development planning programmes within the Master Plan framework and the more detailed Action Area Plans, later, it is anticipated that the necessary complementary actions can be integrated so that a comprehensive approach to implementation mechanisms put forward.

1.4.4 Consultation Process

A major feature of the current process has been the conduct of a range of meetings and consultations with Government Ministries, agencies and authorities, the private sector and non-Governmental organisations (NGOs). Following submission of this Interim Report, it is intended to hold a programme of public consultation, including meetings in each local area, so that the needs and aspirations of existing communities and other local interests are fully taken into account in formulating proposals.

Consultations carried out to date include:

· Town and Country Planning Division, Ministry of Integrated Planning and Development;

· Drainage Division, Ministry of Infrastructure, Development and Local Government;

· Road Planning Department, Highway Division, Ministry of Infrastructure, Development and Local Government;

· Traffic Management Branch, Ministry of Transport;

· Geology and Geophysics Division, Ministry of Energy;

· Forestry, Ministry of Food Production and Marine Resources;

· Environmental Management Agency, Ministry of the Environment;

· Chaguanas Borough Corporation;

· Greater Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce;

· Caroni (1975) Limited;

· T&TEC;

· Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA); and

· National Gas Company.

1.4.5 Outputs

An analysis of the local and area-wide opportunities, followed by Action Area planning and implementation mechanisms will form the basis of the strategies and proposals for the Chaguanas area for the next 20-year period.

The principal outputs consist of:

· A Master Plan showing broad land uses, development strategies and principal highways for the year 2020;

· A Transportation Network Plan;

· An Infrastructure Plan, showing trunk networks and facilities;

· A Chaguanas Town Centre Plan and Development Phasing Strategy; and

· A Concise Report, including data and analysis, policies and proposals and identifying a ‘short list’ of areas or topics where priority actions are likely to be required.

1.4.6 Next Steps

This document represents the Interim Report for the Chaguanas area. Following submission and review it will be subject to further consultation and public participation, prior to revision and finalisation. The consultation process for the Plan outlined above will inform the identification and refinement of priority action proposals, including the identification of responsibilities for implementation as between public, community and private sector agencies. The more detailed Action Area Plans will be prepared in later tranches of work. Broad cost estimates for public sector infrastructure projects, phasing and institutional requirements will also be identified in these Plans.

1.5 Format of this Report

This Interim Report is presented in four parts:

Part One, which comprises this Introduction (Section 1), and which is preceded by the Executive summary;

Part Two, which describes the Context of the current work and includes sections on:

Study Area (Section 2);

Human Environment (Section 3);

Natural Environment (Section 4);

Transport (Section 5); and

Infrastructure (Section 6).

Part Three, which outlines the Planning Strategy for the Chaguanas area (Section 7); and identifies and discusses the policies and proposals for action in Chaguanas Town Centre (Section 8); and

Part Four, which outlines possible Implementation Mechanisms including proposals for the Public Consultation process (Section 9), which is to follow this stage of the work and also proposes the definition of two Action Areas (Section 10).

Part Two

2 St udy Area Context

2.1 National and Regional Context

Chaguanas is located in the Caroni Region, the heartland of two major elements that have been central to the shaping of present day Trinidad and Tobago. The first is the sugar plantation, which was historically the primary production element in the Caribbean and has laid the basis for the plantation economy, the main single component of West Indian economic and societal development.

Sugar fuelled the slave trade and in Trinidad, it also introduced East Indian indentureship. So that the second element is the East Indian presence in significant numbers and exerting considerable influence in cultural activity and commerce. That presence and influence is vividly expressed in Caroni.

Caroni (1975) Limited, the state-owned company, which embraces the entire sugar industry, is a central feature of the life of Caroni; being the single largest employer in the area and controlling a vast expanse of land. The company is synonymous with the history of sugar.

A further key characteristic of the Chaguanas area is its strategic location along the Uriah Butler/ Solomon Hochoy national Highway and the Southern Main Road, between Greater Port of Spain and the east-west corridor to the north and Couva/ Point Lisas and San Fernando to the south.

As a consequence of these nationally important highway links and connections to the main ports and urban areas of Trinidad, Chaguanas has become a centre for trade, commerce and distribution and other light industries including construction depots.

This high level of transport accessibility has also stimulated continuous housing developments within commuting distance of Port of Spain, the east-west urban corridor, Couva/ Point Lisas and San Fernando.

Other recent trends include the development of a number of large retail malls, retail and wholesale warehouses and distribution centres, making Chaguanas one of the largest concentrations of modern retail floorspace in the country. This is accompanied by a vibrant traditional town centre, with a large market, which is currently being modernised, and a thriving informal retail sector.

2.2 Study Area Characteristics

Chaguanas is a bazaar town with an expanding residential area where along the main thoroughfares of the settlements that make up the wider Chaguanas conurbation, residential and commercial activities have traditionally been combined. The town itself is a bustling, active urban centre combining in the commercial core, modern shopping facilities with the market – a proliferation of vendors offering their wares.

The East Indian cultural force is expressed in may varied forms and activities – Hindu and Islamic religious festivals, weddings, manufacture of oriental herbs and spices, roti and doubles which have become national goods and the music (classical Indian or local chutney). That force is captured essentially in the celebration of Divali occurring in the last quarter of the calendar year which has become a national festival.

Though celebrated at the level of the family and community, the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) has emerged as the main organiser of the national activity. The focus of the festivities is the town of Chaguanas, the fastest growing urban area in Trinidad and Tobago, which is effectively “the capital of Caroni”. The physical centre of Divali is the Divali Nagar Village located just north of the town centre.

2.2.1 Definition

The Study Area has been defined based on the earlier Scoping Study and Concept Plan work.

Chaguanas sub-region incorporates Caroni Swamp, Felicity and agricultural areas to the west of the existing town, potential areas for urban expansion to the north at Munroe Road and south including Carlsen Field and the main residential settlements to the east.

These expanding settlements include Montrose, Longdenville, Enterprise, Cunupia and Mon Plaisir which are also included in the Plan study area.

Planning for this emerging conurbation requires clear definition and designation of the boundaries to urban development which should reflect key constraints including:

the retention and maintenance of better quality agricultural land;

the Caroni Swamp proposed national park and coastal wetlands to the west;

the Longdenville Forest Reserve to the east; and

the need for appropriate drainage, irrigation and flood protection zones throughout the area.

2.2.2 Settlements

Regional and sub-regional centres in the Study Area have been defined as:

Chaguanas Town

This is the original core of the urban settlement of Chaguanas, and one of the older settlements in Trinidad. The area now functions as the Central Business District for the emerging Chaguanas conurbation and surrounding communities. The commercial core of the town centre is effectively separated from the residential catchment areas to the east by the national Highway.

Felicity

Felicity lies within the Caroni sugar cane growing area and is the main settlement west of the Highway, northwest of Chaguanas and east of the Caroni Swamp. Some of the first group of East Indian indentured workers were settled in this location.

Enterprise

There has been large-scale (spontaneous) development on private lands in and around Enterprise. This is now one of the most densely populated parts of the plan area, lying east of the Highway and forming part of the wider urban conurbation from Chaguanas town to Longdenville.

Longdenville

The expanding settlement of Longdenville lies to the east of the main conurbation on the edge of a sparsely settled district affected by long-term clay mining activities, within the Longdenville Forest Reserve. There are extensive unrestored, mined-out lands in the area, as well as active pits and associated industries; some deforestation has taken place on the fringes of the Reserve.

Cunupia

Cunupia is one of the larger settlements in the sub-region, lying on the intersection between the Southern Main Road and Chin Chin Road northeast of Chaguanas town centre. This is a significant centre for local services and is currently expanding as a residential community, being strategically located between Chaguanas and the Piarco internatinal airport complex.

Carlsen Field

This is the site of a former U.S. air base, lying east of and adjacent to the Solomon Hochoy Highway, south east of Chaguanas town.

There are some large construction/ industrial operations close to the Highway, but much of the area is informally used for sporadic and dispersed agricultural activities, particularly grazing, dairy and poultry farms. There are other informal industrial activities (such as scrap metal dealers) and scattered homes, accessed through the network of roads remaining from the former air base.

Smaller settlements include Charlieville, Montrose to the east, Mon Plaisir to the northeast and Chase Village/ Agostini to the west of the Highway. All of these expanding settlements include a mix of house types and densities. They can be characterised as largely developments where incremental housing growth is being experienced surrounded by smallholder and mixed agricultural practices that are coming under increasing pressure for other more built form uses. In the longer term, coalescence of many of these settlements within the wider Chaguanas conurbation is likely, unless stronger definition of settlement boundaries, combined with enforcement of development and agricultural constraint policies outside of these areas can be maintained.

3 H uman Environment

3.1 Introduction

This Section presents information on the distribution and growth of population and households in the Study Area. This analysis is then used to formulate population and household projections for the Study Area over the next 20 years. Housing and land requirements are then estimated, and social and community facilities identified.

For the most part, the data has been derived from the 1990 Census. Other material has been obtained by field survey and from other relevant studies and reports, principally the socio-economic analysis report prepared as part of the parallel National Conceptual Plan Development (NCDP) Study, Volume 1: National Report. It should be noted that no information from the 2000 Census is currently available. When this information is published, it may prove necessary to revise the projections.

3.2 Population and Households

3.2.1 Population Distribution

In 1990, the population of the Study Area was just under 78,000 residing in 17,500 households. The population is split between Cunupia and Chaguanas wards in Caroni County with around 90% living in Chaguanas ward; 75% of the population of this ward is included in the Study Area compared to only 38% of Cunupia’s population. The average household size (AHS) was 4.5 persons compared to the national average of 4.0 indicating a higher proportion of nucleated families.

The current Study Area population is estimated to be in the order of 91,000.

Table 3.1. Population Distribution by Ward, 1990

WARD

Issue	Revision	Description	Date	Signed

1 Introduction