Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1172978
NEWS 6 JAMES DEBONO THE decision on a controver- sial Qala redevelopment of a 31 sq.m countryside ruin into a villa with swimming pool due yesterday has been post- poned to 15 October, after the developer submitted new plans reducing the dwelling's footprint from 150 sq.m to 115 sq.m. The Planning Authority's planning commission, chaired by Elizabeth Ellul, has been keen on approving the devel- opment despite strong ob- jections by the case officer, who insisted the develop- ment could not be approved because aerial photos dating back to 1978 showed a roof- less room. But in the latest twist, the latest plans have now been endorsed by the PA's planning directorate – the case officers' unit – and are recommended for approval, following a re- view by the post-recommen- dation team (PRT). The revised drawings in- dicate a proposed 115 sq.m ground floor and an underly- ing 60 sq.m basement. A 40 sq.m pool is also being pro- posed but its location has shifted to a field at a higher level, so that it is less visible from the street. The property comprises 4,700 square metres of disused farmland in an idyllic setting with unobstructed views, and was purchased by Excel In- vestments, a company owned by construction magnate Jo- seph Portelli, last January. The planning commission chairman Elizabeth Ellul has denied having a conflict of interest after the Times of Malta revealed that her hus- band Andrew Ellul was act- ing as an architect for another development project involv- ing Portelli. Ellul regularly recuses herself from decisions whenever her husband and daughter, also an architect, submit development applica- tions before her. But this has not precluded her from taking decisions on other planning applications submitted by cli- ents of her relatives. The Qala saga The application was sub- mitted on the basis of a con- troversial 2014 policy but was initially recommended for refusal by the case officer. Instead of turning down the application, Ellul's commis- sion indicated an intention to overturn the recommen- dation and approve the per- mit. In August, the commis- sion responded to a revised case officer report which still called for the refusal of the application, saying that not approving the applica- tion "would not be consist- ent with the other decisions taken by the Planning Com- mission", which is "adamant there is no infringement to the policy". The commission referred to 11 other similar decisions approved in the past months. "The policy is what it is. It is not the remit of the Commis- sion to change the approved policy but it us up to the leg- islator to decide any policy changes," Ellul said. The planning directorate is insisting that the permit cannot be issued because of aerial photos taken in 1978, which show that the build- ing on the site already had no roof and therefore could not have been used as a resi- dence. It cited a court sentence which states that policy al- so requires that the use of a building must also be legally established in 1978. Commission 'concerned' by case officer's refusal In July the case officer was reprimanded by Ellul for rec- ommending the application for refusal, saying the board was "very concerned that the directorate recommended a refusal of this applications". While the case officer de- cried the lack of definitive proof that the building had been used as a residence in the past, the commission insisted that the directorate had not analysed the documents re- lated to the residential status of the building well. The policy that allowed the permit to be approved is the Rural Development Guide- lines issued in 2014, which in- cludes a clause (Policy 6.2.A) that specifically allows the "rehabilitation and change of use of architectural historical or vernacular interest" and al- lows their transformation into dwellings. The policy specifically allows the construction of a dwelling (even if the former use was not residential), provided the existing building to be con- verted has a minimum area 100 sq.m. In the Qala case, the pro- posal did not qualify for a new residential use because the in- ternal floor area was 21 sq.m. But the same policy further specifies that a converted building can be used for a use that is already legally estab- lished. Therefore, the developers presented a death certificate, indicating that Grazia Mifsud was found dead in an unnum- bered room in Ta' Muxi in August 1921. But documents from Qala's Status Animarum – the parish archives – show that Mifsud lived in another house in cen- tral Qala. Environment Minister Jose Herrera had decreed last July's decision by the commission not to reject the application outright as being "not on". The Planning Authority is still in the process of review- ing its ODZ policies which led to the conversion of a number of countryside ruins in to full fledged villas over the past four years. The review was commenced after a MaltaTo- day probe in to ODZ permits issued by the Planning Com- mission despite the contrary advice of the Environment and Resources Authority. maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 2 OCTOBER 2019 CAREER OPPORTUNITY Professional Officer (Data Harmonisation and Standardisation) The role requires a person to support and maintain processes and services for spatial information, data sharing and harmonisation which will assist the Authority in meeting its business goals. The person is required to have: Qualifications: Bachelor's Degree recognized by the NCFHE (MQF Level 6) in GIS/IT Systems or an area with a significant content of GIS/IT. Alternatively if no bachelor's degree is held, a Master's Degree recognized by the NCFHE (MQF Level 7) in GIS/IT Systems or an area with a significant content of GIS/IT. Candidates are to present scanned copies of all qualifications with their application. Candidates who are in possession of foreign qualifications are to present proof of MQF Level equivalence with their application. Experience: Minimum of two years experience in ICT or Geographic Information Systems development and support, after graduating. Be conversant with INSPIRE-specific systems analysis and database design for geographic datasets and related information. The above post is for an indefinite period. Interested candidates are advised to submit their application, together with a detailed curriculum vitae to: The Human Resources Manager Planning Authority Ref: Professional Officer (Data Harmonisation and Standardisation) Jobsplus Permit Number: 577/2019 or via email: jobapplications@pa.org.mt. For further information visit our website: https://www.pa.org.mt/en/vacancies Closing Date: 09th October 2019 JOIN OUR TEAM www.pa.org.mt PLANNING AUTHORITY Qala countryside villa recommended for approval The Qala property was purchased by a company owned by construction magnate Joseph Portelli last January