Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1345126
16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 FEBRUARY 2021 NEWS JAMES DEBONO A fifth of zoning applications setting the parameters for future developments that were pre- sented between 2018 and 2020, remain under wraps, their de- tails still unavailable for viewing on the Planning Authority's in- formation system. Up until May 2019, planning control applications were pub- lished on the PA's website at the very beginning of the application process. Subsequently, the PA removed all pending applications deemed to be "incomplete" – including zoning applications. A PA spokesperson said a PC application cannot be validated unless all necessary documenta- tion is submitted. "It is often the case that some documentation takes long to procure especially when a site has multiple own- ers." Moreover current legislation includes no timeframes for the automatic invalidation of these applications when the informa- tion is not provided within a re- quired time-frame. While the PA's 'suspension' on normal planning applications was partly reversed, with the PA publishing details on permit re- quests deemed to require envi- ronmental impact assessments, this is not the case with zoning applications. One of the PC applications pruned from the public infor- mation system was for a medi- um-rise development near the Australia Hall site in Pembroke. Another applications removed was that setting the parameters for development at the back of the Le Meridien car park in St Julian's. Zoning applications, known as planning control applications, set the planning parameters on matters like height, use and road access for particular sites. Sub- sequent planning permits are issued on the basis of these par- amaters. They cover a wide range of ap- plications, from minor changes in road alignments, to proposals for large-scale developments. PC applications were also required to set the parameters of the infa- mous 2006 extension of building boundaries. Sources in the Planning Au- thority told MaltaToday that although most missing zoning applications involve minor de- velopments, like adjusting build- ing lines, the list includes a cou- ple of large tracts of land, which although within building zones, and located in sensitive areas on which ERA has already ex- pressed strong reservations. The PA justified taking off ap- plications because its legal obli- gation to publish application de- tails and related plans only arises when the application process is finalised. An application is only considered 'complete' when the application form is fully filled and all documentation required has been fully submitted. One-fifth of PA zoning applications kept under wraps Zoning requests that change way our towns look, kept secret Missing applications Missing All % of applications 2018 29 161 18% 2019 26 120 21.7% 2020 23 82 28% Total 78 363 21.5%