Deon Poortman

Principal Urban Planner and Development Manager

Talent

East London, Buffalo City Metropolitan MunicipalityMember since August 7, 2023

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About

I am a principal level urban planning and development management professional. My skills base, capacity and expertise have been proven over the last 21 years in various major commercially driven real estate projects, including housing and commercial developments, where I have performed the lead role.

Experience

Registered Professional Town Planner (have been registered for 19 years) in this highest professional category (Reg No A/1299/2004) with South African Council for Planners (Equivalent to RTPI);
SACPLAN Accredited Master’s Degree in Urban Planning and B. Degree in Urban and Regional Planning as well as a Certificate in Project Management;
Have been a Director of a Town Planning firm as well as Development Company responsible for all operations, financial management, budgeting, staff management, strategic planning, programme management, leading multi-disciplinary professional teams, delivery of work outputs and production, overall accountability, performance of staff, risk management, contract and tender management.
I am a senior member and advisor of the Sarah Baartman District Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT), the Great Kei Municipal Planning Tribunal (MPT) and an advisor to the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality Appeals Tribunal. In addition I have Development Facilitation Act of 1995 Tribunal Experience over 8 years from 2007 until the repeal of this act in 2015.
Have experience in commercial and residential property development and understand the dynamics and challenges of the property development sector;
Have general knowledge of the facets of Planning related legislation and practice;
Have experience in human resources, training, capacity building and management of staff;
Have mentored and coached many young graduate & candidate planners;
Proven broad skillset including research, technical, leadership and strategic planning expertise.

Projects include Planning applications with complex site development planning and substantial strategic and spatial planning related projects including master planning, preparing city development plans, spatial plans (regional and local area community plans), precinct development plans, preparing development condition guidelines, feasibility studies, strategic plans, developing zoning/land use/development management schemes. Other functions include leading multi-disciplinary teams, supervision/mentoring junior planners, managing stakeholder and public consultation processes, preparing tender terms of reference, costing/budget estimates, tender evaluation, project management, negotiation, site inspections, site optimization, preparing site analysis reports & preparing presentations to client top management, preparing fee proposals, undertaking research, site analysis and planning, preparing site appraisals & provide written and verbal planning advice, preparing statements, managing pre-application consultations, preparing written local plan representations on site promotion, managing appeals, preparing planning, design & access statements, client management, coordinating a team of consultants on all types of projects small to large, speaking on behalf of clients at Planning Tribunals / Committee meetings, preparing client updates, client relationship management and undertaking all project and financial administrative tasks. Major catalytic projects worked on include the planning of the Hemmingways Shopping Mall, Bay-West mall and precinct in Port Elizabeth, Walter Sisulu Buffalo City campus & the Triple Point Mixed-Use Precinct in Beacon Bay.

In addition to my town planning expertise, I have a passion for property development, for both housing and commercial developments. I enjoy developing and maximizing properties to their fullest potential on behalf of my clients as well as in-house personal projects/developments.