Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1273535
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 JULY 2020 NEWS Fears Sliema zoning proposal will 'close' Plaza opening JAMES DEBONO A zoning application to allow the exist- ing Plaza Hotel in Sliema to build over a "roofed" area housing the former Cara's café – now Costa Coffee – and the Vec- chia Napoli restaurant, is meeting some resistance from residents. The application by Julian Zammit Tabona on behalf of Arrigo Group of Hotels, proposes a change in the build- ing alignment in a way that the area of 260sq.m currently occupied by the tent- ed structures of the two catering estab- lishment, can be added to the alignment of the adjacent hotel. If approved, the application will render the two open areas on both sides of St Francis Street developable to the same height of the Plaza hotel. Residents objecting to the "zoning ap- plication" insist that although the area has already been taken up by the cater- ing establishments, the fact that the ar- ea above it is not built over, still gives a sense of openness to this point of the promenade. Objectors insisted that the roofing of the two catering establishments should not be a pretext to allow the full develop- ment of the area, especially because the permit was issued through a simple De- velopment Notification Order, in the ab- sence of any public consultation. DNOs are normally issued for small-scale struc- tures or internal alterations. "It is clear that the DNO procedure has resulted in the incremental takeover of this open space…from an initial conces- sion for tables and chairs, we than had the approval of immovable permanent structures and now an attempt to build over this space," they said. Residents warned that building over this area would have a suffocating effect, noting that a narrow street like St Fran- cis Street should have some open space in front of it instead of the high buildings which dominate the front. KARL AZZOPARDI GOVERNMENT and opposition have agreed on a number of constitutional amendments which will empower better the President of the Republic. The method with which the head of state will be appointed has also been amended, meaning the president will now be elected through a two-thirds parliamentary majority. The opposition voted in favor, despite calling for a division on the clauses, after government choses to drop anti-deadlock mechanism. Through a government proposal, when a presidential nominee fails to obtain a two- thirds majority, the threshold is lowered to a simple parliamentary majority. The opposition had objected on such a mechanism, arguing that a simple parliamen- tary majority would defeat the whole purpose of the reform. While no details have emerged on what the alternative fallback position will be proposed, MP Chris Said that government would be tabling amendments on Wednesday, which would make it possible for the opposition to support the reforms. The same two-thirds mechanism was also proposed for the Ombudsman, the Auditor General and the Chief Justice. Changes to the constitution are in line with recommendations by the Venice Commission rule of law experts from the Council of Europe. President to be elected through two-thirds parliamentary majority Government and Opposition agree on constitutional amendments