Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1096093
7 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 MARCH 2019 JAMES DEBONO THE owner of 89,000sq.m of land beneath the Dwejra for- tification lines in Mgarr wants to regularise an illegal deer farm he built by creating an agritourism farm. Emanuel Ciantar has resur- rected plans for the exten- sive agritourism project he presented two years ago, by requesting that the Planning Authority sanction the irregu- larities on his land. The project will include a winery and slaughterhouse, apart from Ciantar's deer shel- ters which the PA has already issued an enforcement notice against. The Environment and Re- sources Authority has warned that the extensive project will result in the "the loss of ap- proximately 13,700sq.m of agricultural and rural land for accommodation and other amenities", including land- scaped areas around the pro- posed buildings. And the PA's agricultural ad- visory committee (AAC) says that deer are not listed among the type of animals for which the 2014 rural policy guide- lines would allow nearby ac- commodation for the breeder. Even plans for the slaughter- house were described as "too generic and inadequate" by the AAC, which wants details on how the deer meat is going to be cut and processed and where the meat will be sold. Apart from sanctioning the irregularities, Ciantar wants to build 10 guest rooms, a res- taurant, a swimming pool and decking area, a small farm re- tail outlet, a winery, an olive oil production plant, an ani- mal breeder's residence and a slaughterhouse. The project also foresees a vineyard and the planting of olive trees. A similar project had already been proposed in 2016 but the application was later withdrawn, only to be resurrected after the enforce- ment notice was issued. Of the total 89,000sq.m, 13,700sq.m are being ear- marked for accommoda- tion and amenities, while other lands are indicated for cultivation. These include 26,620sq.m for fodder cultiva- tion, 25,600sq.m for olive and fruit trees and 22,590sq.m for viniculture. The ERA, however, says the project involves the physical re-engineering of the site to- pography into a "significantly more formalised layout." Ciantar's architect is former Labour MP Charles Buha- giar, who currently chairs the Building Industry Consulta- tive Council. The development is be- ing proposed in a rural area, characterised by a stretch of open terraced land right be- neath the ridge on which the Dwejra lines, a section of the more extensive Victoria lines, were constructed. The area is scheduled as an Area of High Landscape Value. The ERA has warned that the site is highly visible from various surrounding areas. "The approval of such devel- opment would result in a sig- nificant impact on the overall surroundings, including the scenic value of the relatively unspoilt rural environment". The project will have to be assessed according to the lim- its set by the 2014 rural policy which foresees agritourism projects on 67,000sq.m plots of contiguous land. The Plan- ning Authority's agricultural advisory panel (AAC) has al- ready warned that the project is in breach of the policy, be- cause the land parcels are, in fact, not contiguous, and the footprint of the proposed de- velopment is larger than the maximum allowed. The committee is also object- ing to the proposed winery and olive production plant because the applicant is not in posses- sion of 20 tumoli of vines, as required by policy, and is not registered in the olive registry held by the Agriculture Direc- torate. HAVE YOUR SAY (Phase 1) The Planning Authority would like to inform you that it has been requested by Minister to review Grand Harbour Local Plan of 2002 (Marsa) and the 2006 South Malta Local Plan (Luqa) as amended in 2011, and to review the Central Malta Local Plan for Qormi (2006), as amended in 2013 and 2017. Review of the 2002 Grand Harbour Local Plan (Marsa) and the 2006 South Malta Local Plan (Luqa) as amended in 2011. The Government is requesting the Planning Authority to carry out a partial local plan review of the Grand Harbour Local Plan policy GM24 with the following objectives: a) To remove the need for a development brief for the whole area; b) To designate a range of sub-zones within the area covered by policy GM24 provided that the site indicated as the Marsa Horse Racing Track is designated as a unique and separate sub-zone for the development of the Horse Racing Track and supporting uses; c) To formulate a unique and separate development framework for the sub-zone of the Horse Racing Track and the other sub-zones; d) To carry out a re-apportionment of the total built footprint and the gross developable floorspace (GDF) established by policy GM24 as approved in 2011 between the new sub-zones, provided that the built footprint of 60,000 sqm and the GDF of 114,000 sq m is not increased; e)To revise or delete any other provision of policy GM24 which is deemed to prejudice the objectives set out under a) to d) above. Review of the 2006 Central Malta Local Plan for Qormi, as amended in 2013 and 2017. The Central Malta Local Plan provisions for Qormi as detailed out in policy QO05 and in PC 15/09 and PC 51/16 in relation to the site indicated in the Figure below need to be reviewed with the following objective: f) To amend the provisions of policy QO05 and planning control applications 15 of 2009 and 51 of 2016 related to the maximum allowable height of buildings and delete the condition that the roof of the building below the level of Triq Hal Qormi (arterial road) should be allocated for soft landscaping to enable the increase of the allowable building heights to 11.4 m above the upper road level. This review will require amendments to the current provisions of policy GM 24 and Figure A in the Grand Harbour Local Plan of 2011 and to the provisions of policy QO05 in the Central Malta Local Plan of 2006 and PC15/09 and PC51/16. The map indicating the site area which will be affected by this review may be viewed on the Authority's website; www.pa.org.mt/consultation. Representations are to be made in writing and sent through e-mail address: ghlp@pa.org.mt Submissions on the proposed objectives need to reach the Authority by the 29th March 2019. www.pa.org.mt PLANNING AUTHORITY OPEN PUBLIC CONSULTATION Partial local review of the 2002 grand harbour local plan (Marsa) and the 2006 south Malta local plan (Luqa) as amended in 2011, and a partial local plan review of the 2006 central Malta local plan for Qormi, as amended in 2013 and 2017. Illegal deer farm wants agritourism permit on unspoilt Dwejra farmland The project will include a winery and slaughterhouse, apart from Ciantar's deer shelters which the PA has already issued an enforcement notice against The three parcels of land on the Mgarr hillsides