Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1527938
4 NEWS 4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 16 OCTOBER 2024 MARIANNA CALLEJA mcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt LOCAL plans should have been revised in 2016, as stated in the document created in 2006, Dep- uty Speaker and Nationalist MP David Agius said when asked about the proposed changes to Villa Rosa's local plan. "In 2016, or at any time there- after, the government had the opportunity to revise and amend the local plans. Now, eight years later, they are yet to make any changes," Agius said on TVM's Xtra. The proposed changes would facilitate a high-rise develop- ment by Garnet Investments, a company owned by Anton Camilleri, also known as Tal- Franċiż, and his son Adelbert Camilleri. "A Labour government today could readily convene to discuss this matter. While we may not see eye to eye on everything, we would at least have the chance to review and revise it," Agius said. "Instead, they retained the PN's local plans, as drafted in 2006, until the last cabinet meeting, when they decided to change them for Villa Rosa." When asked about the same matter, Minister Julia Farrugia sidestepped the question, stating she could not discuss what was said during a cabinet meeting. "If you were to ask me directly whether I support development in ODZ areas or valleys, my an- swer tonight would be a clear no," she said. "Without com- menting on this specific case, when stakeholder engagement is lacking, a project, no matter how well-designed, will fail." Agreeing with this sentiment, Agius emphasised the impor- tance of stakeholder engage- ment, noting that just like in the case of Xewkija's airstrip, the La- bour council at Pembroke seems to have been excluded. In response, Farrugia remind- ed everyone that public con- sultation is still upcoming, and changes could be made depend- ing on the feedback received. Deputy Speaker and PN MP David Agius (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday) David Agius says Labour government should have revised local plans in 2016 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The policy allows all hotels inside devel- opment zones to add two new storeys over and above the height limitation permitted in their towns' local plans. But this height can breach the two-story limit if the hotel is on a site larger than 5,000 square metres, surrounded by existing or planned roads, or if the site accommodates standalone buildings. Last week, the Villa Rosa site made head- lines after it emerged that Cabinet voted on a proposal to change the local plan. MaltaToday reported that the vote in question had left a number of ministers un- comfortable, as they noted that the move, which will accommodate developer, Anton Camilleri, contradicts comments made by Prime Minister Robert Abela, when he had stated that local plans cannot be changed on a whim. Partial review of Gozo and Comino Local Plan The Planning Authority is also propos- ing a partial review of the 2006 Gozo and Comino Local Plan, specifically targeting two areas in Għajnsielem and Xewkija. In Għajnsielem, the PA plans to desig- nate the area that normally accommodates the live Bethlehem nativity as an open-air, formal recreational land use with ancillary structures. The proposed site-specific policy will in- clude criteria to ensure that the site is only used for formal recreation with minimal commercial activity. Ancillary structures will remain small in scale, while their de- sign and location should not impact the surroundings. In Xewkija, the PA wants to designate the area located between Triq it-Torri Gorgun and Triq il-Kav. Lorenzo Zammit Haber as a rural settlement. The objective is to clearly delineate the development bound- ary and identify the acceptable land-uses and building height limitation within the overall framework of the Gozo and Comino Local Plan. The public can submit their representa- tions to these plans in writing to the Planning Authority via email at consulta- tion-gclp@pa.org.mt by 6 November 2024. Partial review of 2006 Local Plan policies for rural settlements The Planning Authority is also intiating a partial review of the 2006 Local Plans poli- cies covering rural settlements. The authority said this review will seek to bring clarity and update the policies to ensure that the management and develop- ment of these areas align with conemporary planning standards. This review will affect four local plans, namely North West, Central Malta, South Malta and Gozo and Comino. The objectives of the review as stated by the PA will be to amend the policies relating to Category 2 and Category 3 Rural Settle- ments to clearly define the acceptable types of development considered as ancillary to a dwelling in these areas, as well as the guide- lines for the take-up of fresh land in Cate- gory 3 settlements for development that is considered as ancillary to a dwelling. PN requests urgent committee meeting to discuss changes Earlier on Tuesday the Nationalist Party requested an urgent meeting of the Par- liamentary Environment Committee to be convened to discuss the changes to the Lo- cal Plans. The Nationalist MPs on the committee - Stanley Zammit and Rebekah Borg - wrote a letter to the Chairman of the Permanent Committee on the Environment, Climate Change and Development Planning insist- ing that any proposed changes to the Local Plans must safeguard the environment and the quality of life of residents. They suggested that the committee con- vene on 17 or 18 October and that the Minister responsible for Planning be asked to appear before the committee to explain what was decided by the Cabinet on the Vil- la Rosa local plan changes. PA announces three consultations on reviews to 2006 Local Plans The Partial Review Area Boundary as stipulated by the Planning Authority