Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1521306
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 MAY 2024 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt So pedestrian: Stivala claims illegal lido deck enhances walkers-by experience HOTELIER and developer Mi- chael Stivala is attempting to gain a green light for an illegal deck he built atop his Gżira seafront lido by claiming it has given passers-by "a better street context". Stivala, who is president of the Malta Developers Association, thinks he can have his illegal roof- deck sanctioned by the Planning Authority because it allows "a greater portion of pedestrians and potential users… the space to en- joy the amenities provided by the project." He is even claiming – in a state- ment penned by his architect Edwin Mintoff – that his hotel lido ties in with the 'Slow Streets Network' initiative undertaken by the Local Councils Association "whereby pedestrians and pas- sers-by are afforded a better street context". Originally, the permit for his Gżira lido, which includes a res- taurant protruding into the Gżira Creek, was issued on condition that the roof was left unencum- bered by new structures, as laid out in the 2018 parliamentary res- olution transferring the site to Sti- vala and his hotel consortium. The 2,300sq.m of reclaimed land for the lido was to service the nearby Bay View, Kenneduy Nova, Strand and Waterfront hotels. In 2023, Stivala requested that his rooftop decking and the continu- ous glass railing around the roof perimeter, which are already be- ing used by guests, get sanctioned. And yet, the original permit spe- cifically ruled out any structures at roof level, even specifying that any services were to be built on a lower level. Moreover, the land transferring deed itself, approved by a parlia- mentary resolution, specifically states that "no roof structures and services shall be placed on the roof" of the lido. Stivala's justification report, penned by architect Edwin Mintoff, claims the illegal roof- top decking now renders the area accessible to larger amounts of guests and gives the opportunity "to a greater portion of pedestrians and potential users of the space to enjoy the amenities provided by the project." According to Mintoff, the in- creased ability to house deck- chairs, umbrellas and other furni- ture of the same nature means that "more of these pedestrians and passers-by are afforded amenities, especially during the hot summer months" and that this offers "a more vibrant and comfortable pe- destrian environment." The developers want to 'mitigate' any visual impact with "vegetation housed within movable pots" lin- ing the perimeter of the roof, only during the summer, to ensure the sunbeds and umbrellas are cov- ered by foliage and not visible from the street. Light pollution will be mitigated with mellow warm-white down- lighting "to ensure safety of pas- sage at night, whilst at the same time respecting the neighbouring context and third parties." Mintoff also claims the proposal is in line with the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Develop- ment which advocates an "efficient use of land" adding that the devel- opment optimizes land utilisation. "The hotels in the area are invest- ing millions in re-investment and upgrading" and "are utilising the limited land in question to its full potential to avoid the need to de- velop a new facility." AN application has once again been filed in a bid to build a 68-room nursing home that will protrude outside the build- ing zones in Għarb, Gozo, in what is the fourth attempt to develop this land since 1994. The latest application was sub- mitted by developer Emanuel Joseph Farrugia, who declared owning the 2,139 sq.m site to the northeast of the Tal-Gidi neighbourhood. Farrugia owns Prime Care Limited, which cur- rently runs St Elizabeth Home in Rabat, Malta. Half of the rooms and other facilities of the proposed home would fall entirely outside de- velopment zone. The plans, drawn up by ar- chitect Alex Bigeni, foresee clearance of a number of tilled fields, to build the four-storey nursing home with two base- ment levels: 68 rooms, includ- ing a chapel and mortuary, a clinic, office, dining area, gym, and 29 car spaces. The latest application is a downscaled version of a simi- lar one filed in 2022 or a larger 5,300 sq.m tract that was set to include 94 rooms. The Environment and Re- sources Authority has objected to the latest application due to the significant encroachment on the ODZ, which would con- tribute to an urban sprawl re- sulting in adverse impact on the rural landscape. The first application, sub- mitted by Anthony Farrugia, dates back to 1994 for a "senior citizen home with all ameni- ties", refused in 1996. An ap- peal against this decision also proved unsuccessful. An outline application for an "old people's home on two sto- reys overlying an underground car park" was submitted in 2008 by Michael Farrugia, on- ly for it to be withdrawn by the applicant in 2018. Emanuel Farrugia submitted another application in 2020, using plans by Bigeni, but this too was withdrawn by the ap- plicant. The Strategic Plan for the En- vironment and Development allows the development of el- derly homes and health facili- ties in the ODZ only if develop- ers had previously considered other sites within the develop- ment zone or in already com- mitted areas. So far only two residential homes have been approved under this policy, namely the Golden Care home developed by GAP Limited in Naxxar; and another one pro- posed by Labour councillor Marlon Brincat in the vicin- ity of the semaphore tower in Naxxar. Developers' boss Michael Stivala wants green light for illegal rooftop decking at Gżira lido, claiming it makes roof space accessible "to a greater portion of pedestrians… to enjoy the amenities provided by the project" Gharb fields targeted for nursing home in fourth permit request