Concerns over Compensation for Owners in Unbuildable Areas by 2050: Mayor Worries, Minister Responds

2023-08-28 05:29:20

“If by 2050, it becomes impossible to build in areas which, on the sector plan, are to be built, who will compensate the injured owners?” worries the mayor of Comblain. “This is where it is important to note that we are in a project” specifies Minister Willy Borsus in charge of regional planning. “My intention is to take into account a number of comments that have been made across the territory. This is the meaning of real consultation”.

Many municipalities believe that they did not have the time to properly study the project submitted to them: “very short deadline for such a complex project” remarks Comblain-au-pont. Olne, like others, regrets that the municipal councils must “to position oneself on the project during the summer holidays”. Limbourg points out that his council does not meet in July and August, that the timing imposed is not “not realistic” and that the process is therefore not “not democratic”.

Not enough design offices in Wallonia

Municipalities will be able to adapt the SDT to their reality. To do this, they must – within five years following the adoption of the final regional version – adopt a municipal scheme. But it is very expensive, underline 37 municipalities, there are not enough approved design offices to serve all the municipalities, and those who already have a municipal plan have to start the work over once more?

Olne has had such a tool since 2013. “It meets our needs and is still relevant” exposes the burgomaster Halin. “You should know that a scheme like this costs 100 to 120,000 euros. You have to call on an approved design office. There are only 19 in Wallonia. It will be impossible for the 262 municipalities to be able to call on a design office to review or develop a tool like this”.

“Several dozen municipalities now have certain tools, including SDCs [schéma de développement communal – ndlr]. Our goal is obviously not to ask them to repeat such an exercise, especially if it has been carried out recently” assures Minister Borsus on this point.

A series of other remarks

The municipalities consulted made other comments. Here is a selection. Permit applications are likely to increase dramatically in the five-year period preceding the implementation of the SDT. Land value scales can be upset. The municipality of Theux also fears an even stronger social break: “the plots outside the centralities risk becoming financially inaccessible for part of the population”.

The plan does not correctly integrate the commercial establishments, the SDT should be accompanied by an extension file, the “centralities” defined on the map are not adapted to municipal realities, for example do not take into account the hazards of flooding (Lincent). Hamoir remarks that it will be complicated to manage a building ban on the basis of the SDT which will have an indicative value, whereas the sector plan has regulatory value.

With forty negative opinions out of fifty-five, the rural municipalities of the districts of Verviers, Huy and Waremme refer the Walloon government to its copy: “take into account our realities” ask the mayors.

*These are Anthisnes, Aubel, Baelen, Braives, Burdinne, Clavier, Comblain-au-Pont, Crisnée, Dalhem, Dison, Donceel, Faimes, Ferrières, Fexhe-le-Haut-Clocher, Geer, Hamoir, Hannut, Héron, Lierneux, Limbourg, Lincent, Marchin, Modave, Nandrin, Olne, Ouffet, Pepinster, Remicourt, Saint-Georges-Sur-Meuse, Stavelot, Stoumont, Tinlot, Trois-Ponts, Verlaine, Wanze, Waremme and Welkenraedt. According to our document, the municipalities of Amay, Waimes and Wasseiges were unable to meet on time, but their assessment goes in the same direction.

Note that Berloz, Sprimont, Theux, Thimister-clermont and Villers-le-Bouillet have given favorable and favorable opinions under conditions and that Aywaille, Engis, Malmedy, Plombières and Spa are favorable “with reservations”.

1693206997
#Dont #touch #village #forty #rural #municipalities #Liège #Walloon #territorial #development #plan

Leave a Replay