Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/640308
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 14 FEBRUARY 2016 6 News CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The gov- ernment has already excluded a major extension of development zones like the one carried out by the previous government in 2006. But when asked why the gov- ernment does not simply keep the boundaries as these are to- day, former parliamentary secre- tary Michael Falzon had justified tweaking the 2006 boundaries by accusing the former government of being "creative" in including certain lands, but not others. "Even from an aesthetic point of view it would make sense to in- clude lands which were left out un- fairly," Falzon had said, adding that "there is no intention to repeat the obscenities committed in 2006." When asked by The Times about this issue, Falzon's succes- sor as planning secretary, Deborah Schembri, replied that "it would be premature to comment" on this is- sue. The publication of new local plans presents a dilemma for the government. If the plans lean too heavily in favour of development they could create new tensions with environ- mental NGOs, which the govern- ment could be keen on avoiding in the next months, especially if the government opts for an early elec- tion. It could also keep the media busy scrutinising the beneficiaries of the new plans. But if the new plans are too sen- sitive to environmental concerns they could breed resentment among owners who feel left out. The prospect of the process drag- ging into the next general election campaign may lead to increased electoral pressures on the govern- ment and politicians by those who are hopeful of getting their land included in development zones or who stand to gain from revisions in heights or zoning of particular areas. According to MEPA, the Local- lan Review process is still ongoing and "considering the scale of the exercise and the complexity of the issues involved, no fixed date has been set for its completion". The MEPA spokesperson in- sisted that changes to the devel- opment zone boundaries should follow the process set out in the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development (SPED), which requires an appraisal of the 2006 boundaries on the basis of detailed criteria to guide "minor adjust- ments whilst ensuring that the overall result does not constitute a significant change". These minor adjustments, if any, will have to be approved by the House of Representatives. A review of the height limitations is also part of the Local Plan Review Process. Asked specifically whether MEPA is considering changes to building heights in specific areas like the Sliema and Gzira promenades, the MEPA spokesperson replied that "no specific area has been excluded from consideration". How local plans will be changed In June 2013 former parliamen- tary secretary for lands Michael Farrugia confirmed that the gov- ernment intended to substitute the current seven regional local plans with three generic plans, one of which would be exclusive to Gozo and Comino, one for the whole of urban Malta and the other for the Maltese 'Out of Development Zone'. The aim of this revision was to "streamline policies and avoid con- flicting policy interpretation". The Structure Plan had envisaged the preparation of 24 Local Plans as well as Plans covering Rural Conservation Areas. Instead, the previous government had opted for seven local plans covering six regions and one locality. Despite the decision to do away with regional local plans MEPA still held seven town hall meetings in 2013 covering the regions incor- porated in the current seven local plans. Writing in the annual report for 2014 (written at the end of the year) MEPA CEO Johann Buttigieg announced that the local plans are being designed on a "paperless concept" and on a "number of dy- namic maps." He expected the technical finali- sation of the draft local plans to be completed by June 2015. This had to be followed by discussion with the government followed by an eight-week public consultation period. MEPA chairman Vince Cassar also described the publication of the new local plans in 2015 as an "important milestone". Cassar wrote that "it is now time that local plans are updated as re- quired" and that a "number of dis- crepancies and anomalies in the current plans" need to be adjusted. Cassar made it clear that he was against "indiscriminate enlarge- ment of development zones" but "a number of anomalies need to be addressed." No fixed date for new local plans MEPA's annual report for 2014 had identified June 2015 as the date for the finalisation of local plans, which will redefine development boundaries and set new building heights, but MEPA now says there are no fixed dates, JAMES DEBONO writes If the plans lean too heavily for development they could create new tensions with NGOs, if they are too sensitive to environmental concerns they could breed resentment among owners who feel left out In the hands of MEPA: chief executive Johann Buttigieg has his work cut out for him in the delicate local plan revision