Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1494707
NEWS 16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 MARCH 2023 True. Athletic. Grit. ELITE, on MaltaToday Facebook Burmarrad garden proposed above vulcaniser station, as ERA warns against piecemeal approach intensifying development outside building zones JAMES DEBONO A public garden is being pro- posed on top of the JT petrol station in Burmarrad, one of the beneficiaries of a now-scrapped policy allowing 3,000sq.m fuel stations outside development zones. The application, presented by the owner of the petrol sta- tion, proposes an additional tyre shop under the proposed garden, reservoir, and an addi- tional seven parking spaces in existing landscaped areas. Artistic impressions present- ed with the application depict a sizeable garden with 50 olive trees, 50 cypress trees, 25 bay laurel trees and a gazebo. No commercial development is be- ing proposed in the garden lev- el in this application, the fifth to be presented by the petrol station owner. But the Environment and Resources Authority shot down the latest plans to add a new level on top of the petrol station, describing this as "a piecemeal approach to the over intensification of development on this particular site". ERA expressed its concern on the addition of new structures, saying the proposal was unac- ceptable from an environmen- tal point of view. The design advisory commit- tee, a panel which advises the Planning Authority on design issues, was also appalled by the application, expressing con- cern about the visual impact of the proposal. "No further addi- tions to the already approved structures should be permit- ted, so as to limit the already incongruous structure," the panel concluded. The petrol station, one of four beneficiaries of the dis- carded policy regulating ODZ fuel stations, was approved in 2017 despite objections by Environment and Resources Authority and the PA's agri- culture advisory committee. A year later the Planning Au- thority also approved a 58sq.m snack bar – where no cooking is allowed – on land originally allocated for a car accessories shop. Subsequently the owners were granted a change-of-use permit to allow cooking on site. In 2020 the owners applied for a 200sq.m catering estab- lishment build over two levels and the extension of their car accessory shop into the area occupied by the approved ca- tering establishment. But this application was withdrawn in 2021. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Burmarrad: 'Public garden' proposed on top of petrol station Artistic impressions presented with the application depict a sizeable garden with 50 olive trees, 50 cypress trees, 25 bay laurel trees and a gazebo