Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1293199
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 30 SEPTEMBER 2020 NEWS JAMES DEBONO THE Environment and Re- sources Authority has shot down plans by zookeeper Anton Cutajar to extend his zoo and regularise illegal structures, by 21,000sq.m to a total footprint of nearly 32,000sq.m. The anti-immigration fire- brand's plans include a regular- ization of an illegally developed farmhouse with a swimming pool, a large hall and a car park, apart from five animal enclo- sures. The ERA said the area for reg- ularisation totals 5,488sq.m, while a masterplan for future expansion – of which no details have yet been provided – seeks another 16,570sq.m of land. Cutajar was already issued a permit in 2017 to devel- op his illegally-built zoo over 10,000sq.m of land, despite the ERA's significant concerns that the zoo would result in fore- seeable, future pressures for extensions – "as in fact is being demonstrated by this current proposal", the authority said. ERA said the plans were exces- sive. A masterplan presented by ar- chitect Lino Bianco is scant on detail on the future expansion but delineates both the area Cutajar wants regularised, and the larger land identified for a "proposed extension". The application also seeks the regularisation of a masonry wall fencing the site from land for future extension of the zoo. Reacting to a MaltaToday sto- ry last week, Cutajar took to Facebook to criticise the news- paper and its journalist, insist- ing that his plans are limited to a 5,000-sq.m extension. The plans submitted by Cuta- jar foresee the regularisation of a 260sq.m "multi-purpose hall", a 13sq.m souvenir kiosk, a car park for 36 cars, a farmhouse with a swimming pool, and a number of animal cages and en- closures. The farmhouse with a pool was developed in an area previ- ously identified for restrooms, a manure clamp and a storeroom. The ERA warned that the pro- posed sanctioning and take-up of land would result in further formalisation and intensifica- tion of the physical develop- ment, and would result in "un- necessary urban sprawl" and "further visual intrusion in the open countryside." The South Malta Local Plan designates the site as an agricul- tural area. Even the Agricultur- al Advisory Committee, a panel advising the PA on applications presented on agricultural land, is objecting to the application due to the further take-up of land. According to the AAC the development of a "residence" cannot be considered accept- able since it does "not fit under any policy". Zoo wants regularisation for illegal farmhouse, pool, multi-purpose hall Zookeeper Anton Cutajar's 21,000sq.m expansion includes regularisation of illegal farmhouse and hall The site approved by PA/02477/16 To Sanction -0 Extension to PA/02477?16 The proposed 16,570sq.m expansion Multi-purpose hall The farmhouse with a pool was developed in an area previously identified for restrooms, a manure clamp and a storeroom