Tom and Vicky, residents of Mechelen, were dissatisfied with an invoice of 600 euros received from the city. The reason behind the invoice was their permit application for some modifications to their house. The couple had purchased their home a few years ago and wanted to make some alterations, informing the city of Mechelen. The city, however, sent letters to 88 neighbors to inform them of the project. Tom was bewildered because their house was situated at the bottom of a distant street. He later found out that the reason behind the notification was that their garden bordered a small part of an apartment in the Duivenstraat, even though a pond and forest separated them. Consequently, the cost of sending the letters to the neighbors fell on Tom and Vicky, who were frustrated with a bill of 616 euros. They felt that they should not have to pay for a completely absurd procedure where 88 so-called neighbors needed to be informed. Greet Geypen, the alderwoman for spatial planning, explained that according to the Flemish spatial planning code, a public inquiry was legally required in this case. Failure to notify the inhabitants of adjacent plots by registered mail would result in major procedural errors that might destroy the permit granted. Finally, the alderman concluded that it would be unfair for the Mechelen taxpayer to bear these costs.
Tom and Vicky, two Belgians from Mechelen, are very unhappy. They received an invoice for 600 euros from the City. The reason ? The permit application they made to make some changes to their home.
The couple bought their house a few years ago. Tom and Vicky would now like to make some adjustments and have made a request to the city of Mechelen. The city then sent a letter to 88 neighbors, informing them of Tom and Vicky’s project. “We didn’t understand it because our house is at the bottom of a distant street,” confides Tom in the columns of the Nieuwsblad.
“Apparently, our garden borders a small part of the land of a building in the Duivenstraat. These are apartments that are located a hundred meters away. Between the two are a pond and a forest, but all residents of the building are considered our neighbors. That’s why 88 registered letters were sent”, explains Tom.
Unfortunately for the couple, the cost of sending these letters to neighbors fell on them. They received an invoice for 616 euros! “As a family with four children, we can really spend that money more usefully. It is not possible that we have to pay for a man or a woman who decided by a completely mad procedure to send letters to 88 so-called neighbors! “, laments the father of the family. “Plus, I think there are much better and cheaper ways to keep everyone informed, especially now that almost everyone has a mailbox,” he adds.
Greet Geypen, the alderwoman for spatial planning, explained following the couple’s complaint: “According to the Flemish spatial planning code, we are legally obliged to organize a public inquiry in this case. If we do not write to the inhabitants of adjacent plots by registered mail, we are committing a procedural error which can have major consequences. The permit granted can then even be destroyed,” she explains. “It would be more unfair for these costs to be borne by the Mechelen taxpayer,” concludes the alderman.
In conclusion, Tom and Vicky’s situation highlights the need for more efficient and cost-effective ways to inform neighbors regarding planned construction projects. While the city of Mechelen may be legally obliged to organize a public inquiry, the process of sending registered letters to 88 neighbors is not only excessive but also imposes a considerable financial burden on homeowners. Moving forward, it is important for local authorities to consider alternative methods of communication that are both practical and respectful of citizens’ resources.
