Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/812895
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 19 APRIL 2017 5 News ture and cannot be considered as just reason for the take up of ODZ land." The development includes a basement carpark, a 3,080 sq.m commercial outlet and 748 sq.m restaurant and a 330 sq.m drive thru at ground floor level, 2,080 sq.m of offices at the first floor level and a landscaped roof. The development located outside development zone, op- posite the family park and the sewage recycling plant is being proposed by Ephriam Schembri who owns the site. Other objections have been presented by Nature Trust and Front Harsien ODZ. Environmental NGO Nature Trust objected to the redevel- opment of the long disused quarry, which operated before 1968 arguing that the quarry should be rehabilitated to its natural state by planting with trees and shrubs. Nature Trust insists that such an application would lead to urban sprawl especially in view of the fact that a large part of Zonqor has already been given up for the development of the American University campus. mall, 'quarry Hotel proposed next to site of ecological importance in Dingli JAMES DEBONO THE Planning Directorate is recommend- ing the approval to change of use of the farm house presently used for aquaculture into a 12-bedroom guesthouse with ancillary facilities consisting of a restaurant at base- ment level beneath the main building, a food production area also at basement level below part of the existing field, and a spa, swim- ming pool, orchards and animal pens within the adjoining field. A final decision will be taken by the Envi- ronment Planning Commission chaired by Elisabeth Ellul, next Friday. The application presented by Jean Paul Busuttil a director of Sansuna Estates Com- pany Ltd foresees the redevelopment of the site located in Triq Misrah Suffara, Dingli, which lies outside the limits of development and forms part of a buffer zone to an Area of Ecological Importance. Apart from the swimming pool and ani- mal pens, the development will not involve an extension of the existing 600 square me- tre footprint which will involve additional development of 551 sq.m at basement level to accommodate the restaurant and kitchen. The original permit for the extension of the farmhouse and its change of use in to a fish culturing unit was approved against the ad- vise of the case officer in 2005. An existing swimming pool, covering an area of 26 sq.m was approved by the previous permit. The swimming pool is to be convert- ed into a spa. The new swimming will cover a footprint of 78 sq.m. In total, the deck area will have an area of 104 sq.m. The project also includes an agro-tourism component "by the introduction of fruit tree orchards and an animal husbandry area". Four large animal pens will be located in the middle of the field, each covering circa 65 sq.m. Each of the pens will include an ani- mal enclosure, whilst three of the pens will include a milking area. Three animal pens having an area of 5 sq.m each will be located along the western wall, together with a quar- antine pen. All these structures will be con- structed in timber, reaching a height of 3m. The Malta Malta Resources Authority had objected to the animal pens, in view that the site is located in close proximity to Misrah Suffara Spring. The Environment and Resources Author- ity has objected to the development. In a memo sent to the Planning Authority ERA expressed its doubts on the sustainabil- ity of the project warning that its approval will create "demands for additional piece- meal development once the use has become established and consolidated". ERA also expressed its concern about the replacement of soft landscaped areas with formal landscaping, construction of new structures and pressures for parking provi- sions. "The proposed will result in the formaliza- tion of a rural area, thus affecting the site's predominant natural character". Despite objections by ERA and the Malta Resources Authority the case officer still recommended approval of the application which is deemed to conform to the SPED policy "which promotes the rural area for agriculture and diversification in support of farming activity in addition to protection and management of the natural and cultural activities which give its distinctive qualities." The case officer also refers to Rural Policy and Design Guidance part 6.2C which regu- lates the change of use of existing buildings ODZ. This policy lists a number of accept- able land uses for such buildings. The pro- posed land use falls within section 5(d) of this policy –" any other use that would result in a wider environmental benefit, provided that the site is already serviced by a road network that would adequately cater for the proposed new use". The proposed use of the farmhouse as a guesthouse use is also considered to be an improvement on the existing fish culturing unit, "as it will sustain agricultural use by the creation of an orchard and the construction of an animal husbandry area, thus making use of the adjoining field for agricultural purposes." The restaurant and spa are considered to be ancillary facilities which compliment the use of the guest house, and is aimed to en- sure the economic viability of the project. Residents in the area have complained that the proposed animal rearing area will create a nuisance to neighbours because of odours, whilst the development will generate park- ing problems while the restaurant will gen- erate noise and other inconveniences in the area. ERA said the project will affect the site's predominant natural character