Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1096093
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 MARCH 2019 JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Authority's advi- sory panel on design issues has shot down a proposed 27-sto- rey hotel overlooking Wied Ghomor in St Julian's, by the Mikiel Anton Vassalli bridge. "The extensive height of the proposed structure will nega- tively impact the surrounding properties and landscape," the Design Advisory Committee said in its first comments on the application. The new hotel, which would rise 24 storeys above street level, has been proposed in- side development zones in an undeveloped plot of just over 3,000sq.m, surrounded by ex- isting roads and enjoying views of the protected valley. The area is presently zoned as a public open space by the North Harbour local plan, a policy aimed at protecting re- maining open public spaces and prevent their development to other uses. The site hosts a number of in- digenous and native trees such as cypress and sandarac trees, carobs and almond trees, all of which are protected. The St Julian's local council is also ob- jecting to this application. The development is proposed by Tum Invest, a former com- pany from the Tumas Group. The outline application pro- posed the construction of a ho- tel with related amenities, with three levels of basement park- ing for parking and 24 overly- ing floors. Valley views are becom- ing increasingly attractive for prospective hotel developers. Another 12-room guesthouse, proposed instead of two ODZ villas which had already been approved by the PA in 2017 instead of the ruins of an old farmhouse, is currently await- ing a permit in the immedi- ate vicinity of the bridge. The Environment and Resources Authority has objected to the development, noting that the permit for two villas was used as a stepping-stone to acquire a permit for a guesthouse. The ERA has warned that "piecemeal development out- side the development zone" could set a negative precedent. Owner Karl Camilleri said in his project development state- ment that the replacement building including swimming pools and deck areas which will not exceed the 400sq.m area, and that the hotel will offer "excellent value for money" to tourists searching for a relaxing ambience inside one of the is- land's busiest tourist hotspots. The proposed development is located within a scheduled Area of Ecological Importance (AEI) and a scheduled Area of High Landscape Value. Only last year the Planning Authority approved a five-sto- rey high hotel with 23 rooms on land previously occupied by a 60sq.m garage, located out- side the building zone in St Ju- lian's on the valley side between the Tigullio complex and the Mikiel Anton Vassalli bridge. An appeal has been presented against the development by the St Julian's local council. NEWS NOTICE BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION European Parliament Election – May 2019 NOTIFICATION by the Electoral Commission addressed to resident non-Maltese EU citizens who wish to vote in Malta for candidates standing for elections in Malta. Those persons already in possession of a valid Residence Card issued by Identity Malta Agency who had originally opted not to vote in Malta (i.e. they would vote in their home country) may become registered voters by completing and submitting an appropiate application form by 31st March 2019, which may be obtained from and deposited at the Local Council Office where the voter resides, at any Police Station and at the Electoral Offices (Valletta and Rabat, Gozo). The form may be downloaded from the Electoral Commission's website : https://electoral.gov.mt/Media/Default/Documents/DOWNLOADS/ ApplicationForms/MEPForm.pdf Completed forms may also be sent to the Electoral Offices, free of postal charge. Those persons who do not possess a valid Residence Card issued by Identity Malta need to apply at the Citizenship Department, Identity Malta Agency, Evans Building, Valletta, by not later than 31st March 2019. Upon doing so they must clearly sign their intention to vote in Malta binding themselves not to vote in this election in their home country. www.electoral.gov.mt • Greet and welcome customers • Taking orders and serving food • Cleaning tables • Cleaning Public areas • Maintaining, cleaning, replenishing guest rooms • Arranging linens • Till handling with cash and card payment • Shelve replenishments • Cleaning dishes and utensils in the kitchens • Any other task as assigned by superiors Greet and welcome customers Till handling with cash • Arranging linens by superiors At Residential and Commercial Solutions Ltd we are currently seeking to recruit a Hospitality Assistant DUTIES Send us your CV by post to 4, A. De Saavedra Street, Naxxar, NXR 2232, Malta or by email on Support@r-csolutions.com Wied Ghomor hotel too high, PA design panel warns JAMES DEBONO YET another fuel service sta- tion, again set outside develop- ment zones in Burmarrad, is set for approval under a controver- sial policy whose review started one year ago but was never fi- nalised. Despite the policy's ban that petrol stations be sited on "good quality agricultural land", the Planning Authority's planning directorate is still recommend- ing the approval of yet anoth- er ODZ fuel station, on land whose value was certified by the PA's agricultural advisory com- mittee. The committee based its as- sessment on a report on soil quality presented in an Envi- ronment Impact Assessment in March 2018, which found the fields had the potential to sus- tain two to three crops per year, generating annual potential earnings of up to €11,000 per tumolo. But in his report, the PA's case officer replies to concerns on the take-up of agricultural land by referring to a clause in the existing policy, stating that petrol stations can be approved in ODZ areas in cases where the community would benefit from the relocation of an existing fuel station, and where the site pro- posed for relocation does not give rise to unacceptable ad- verse environmental concerns. The case officer noted that the applicant had reduced the fuel station's footprint from 3,770sq.m to 1,680sq.m. The final decision is due on 11 April but the case officer has called for the approval of the petrol station. The application, presented by Vincent Bonnici, is to relocate a small kerbside pump in Bur- marrad itself to a larger site at the edge of the hamlet, 113 me- tres south of the Burmarrad de- velopment zone. But in the 1990s the PA had twice rejected similar applica- tions by the same owner, since the area in question is designat- ed as a rural conservation area. Now the PA case officer is claiming that development is acceptable because it is in line with the intentions of the Fuel Service Station Policy. "The proposed fuel station may be considered positively since the community would benefit from the relocation of an existing fuel station both in terms of safety and good neighbourliness." An environment impact as- sessment had concluded that the impact on landscape char- acter was of major negative sig- nificance for the rural character of the area, since the proposal will introduce an element out of character with Burmarrad's rural environment. The Environment and Re- sources Authority has repeat- edly objected to the project. Bonnici says the relocation will alleviate traffic congestion caused by the kerbside fuel ser- vice station, particularly during refuelling by road tankers. An application for the construction of a supermarket was also re- cently presented on an adjacent plot of land. But this application was sus- pended upon request by the applicant. In 2017 the PA ap- proved a brand new 3,000sq.m fuel station located 1.2km away in Burmarrad. Burmarrad pump sited on 'good agricultural land' Despite the policy's ban that petrol stations be sited on "good quality agricultural land", the Planning Authority's planning directorate is still recommending the approval of yet another ODZ fuel station