Prague will have more zoning plans
The new zoning plan in the capital will not be just one. By 2015, a metropolitan plan will be created in Prague, and then probably ten smaller, sectoral plans. These should also be approved by the city council. Such is the intention of Tomáš Hudeček, Councilor for Territorial Development (TOP 09), who this month swept the finished concept of the territorial plan prepared by the former ODS and CSSD coalitions.
“We will probably start solving sectoral plans in 2014,” Hudeček told the E15 daily. However, plans should not be made for all 57 city districts, including the reduction the current city leadership is preparing. “It simply came to our notice then. Even sector plans can be created in one building in the city center, not in city districts, they should be the main actor, “added Hudeček.
However, his vision has a big question mark: how will the authorities decide to allow the construction of specific projects until the sectoral plans are ready? The metropolitan plan will be much more general than the current one.
“It will be less detailed in scale. You will see where there are development areas, where the green part of Prague is, “Hudeček describes. The large zoning plan will not define in detail what types of buildings can grow on the land, but will focus mainly on the delimitation of the site with high-rise buildings and traffic. “I don’t think it’s completely wrong if the sector plan is missing for some time,” says Hudeček.
If, for example, Pankrác is intended for high-rise construction, it will be difficult to prevent the construction of towers even in the part where there are now only low-rise apartment or family houses without a sectoral plan. Similarly, a children’s playground in the middle of a development could disappear in high resolution. “I do not know. I do not dare to say in advance what the solution will be, “admits Hudeček. As declared by its predecessors, Hudeček also wants to facilitate construction in large developing areas. The initiative is to be taken over by the municipal joint-stock company Rozvojové projekty Praha, which will arrange an agreement between investors, city districts and citizens. “Its project directors will be responsible for specific projects. It works in England, they have revitalized beautiful brownfields there, “assures Hudeček.
Sensitive places of the zoning plan of the capital city of Prague
Masaryk railway station
development in the central location is being prepared by the companies Penta, Sudop and Morávka Centrum with Czech Railways as the land owner
Girls’ castles
the original intention was to be a university campus for Charles University, to which residential construction was added
Smíchov railway station
they are planning a commercial project in the 67-hectare locality of České dráhy with Sekyra Group, or another investor
Scatter
One of the last major city-wide changes, Passerinvest mainly wants to build offices and apartment buildings
Tri-border
includes 96 hectares owned not only by the capital but also by developers Central Group, Finep, Orco or PPF Group
Zizkov railway station
50-hectare area, where they want to build Discovery Group and Sekyra Group, is to become a new center, including high-rise buildings
Drums
Orco and Prominecon want to build a new commercial and residential area with a university campus on 66 hectares
I sent the system of collecting fuel from investors, says Prague councilor Tomáš Hudeček
The new Prague Councilor for Territorial Development Tomáš Hudeček (TOP 09) claims that he has two recipes for dealing with corruption in the promotion of development projects: the metropolitan zoning plan and the negotiation procedure under the auspices of one of the city’s joint-stock companies.
* E15: There should be only four possible land uses in the metropolitan plan compared to the current 28. Which will be it?
Landscape, recreation, residential and production functions. With the fact that, for example, the residential function will automatically allow the use of lower loads, ie the landscape and recreation.
* E15: Mixed commercial and residential areas are now common. Will you fall under production use?
You ask for details that will be specified in the zoning plan assignment. This no longer falls into the function of a councilor, but the acquirer of a zoning plan. But I could imagine it that way. The zoning plan should define functional use on the one hand, and structure on the other. It shows where high-rise buildings can be built, where roads lead. The zoning plan should place more emphasis on this.
* E15: How do you protect unstoppable areas?
It will simply not be possible to make a change in unstoppable territory.
* E15: You want to prioritize large development areas within one joint-stock company of the City of Prague Development Projects. How?
Take the example of the Triangle. All the land should be poured into the joint-stock company, the investor, the city district, the city, the civic association should come there. Everyone is “arguing” and the result will be that the investor will build the project, the citizens will be satisfied because he will build a park, the city district will be satisfied because he will receive a social security contribution. He arranges a zoning decision for this. If there is an unstoppable area where there is a need for a forest, then I assume that no one will build anything there, and if so, it will be the will of all.
* E15: But the space for corruption will not disappear…
It is not true. If everyone agrees, the investor guarantees the construction and, based on the agreement, gives the city money, for example, for a kindergarten, the citizens will keep the park, which is a hell of a difference. Welcome, how is it today? An investor comes who wants to build. Let’s not say it’s wrong. In order to build, I have to achieve a change in the zoning plan. And that’s the problem. The bribe will bribe the change, or someone can burn it after it, so that the change can take place, even if it could be without problems. The investor must pay additional fees for the zoning decision. And then he learns that he won’t get an environmental stamp. Valid for the third, fourth, fifth time. I sent this system away.
* E15: Let’s go back to the Triangle. Land there is already owned by private investors, not just the city.
Either the land is invested in that joint-stock company, or a contract can be made that the land is the investor’s, but the joint-stock company somehow disposes of it. You ask the councilor to set the concept. And that is clear: the development of important territories must take place in this way. What it will look like for a particular project will be a matter for the project director at that joint stock company. Specifically, in Trojmezí, there is no other way to evoke agreement. Citizens do not have access to the land because the owner has fenced it, investors cannot build it because they lack permission. The city is cursed by the investor on the one hand, and by the citizens on the other. Civic associations are shouting in all directions. Of course, the joint-stock company will have to take into account that part of Trojmezí already owns Orco, part PPF, part of the city. But I as a politician will not address a specific territory, I have to set up a system. It doesn’t work at all right now.
* E15: You are pushing for greater use of brownfields. Your predecessors have already used this. Developers are often not interested in them because they do not want to invest in removing environmental burdens.
But it is in the city’s interest for the investor to go to the brownfield and not the forest.
* E15: How do you do it?
The city should clean up the area within the joint stock company and prepare the land for the arrival of the investor.
* E15: How will you clean the land that is owned by a private entity?
The land will be bought. But this is a matter of property councilors.
* E15: And does Prague have money in its budget to buy the territory?
When you buy, evaluate and sell the land to the investor, you will not sell.
* E15: So you’re going to buy brownfields?
I’m not a councilor for property. But it’s logical, they do it in London, in Western countries. If the city doesn’t want a brownfield, then I have to do something about the area. And if you’re asking me if there’s money for it, it certainly isn’t.
* E15: How do you see the future of the Department of Development of the Capital City of Prague (URM), which is a contributory organization and developer of the zoning plan? Last year, its new director announced changes that have not yet taken place.
The city needs an institution full of architects for its decision-making. However, URM today often acts as a waiver for disclaimer. The zoning plan department or the construction department have to decide. But they ask the URM where a group of people who have no responsibility will issue an opinion. In other words, he who has no responsibility decides, and he who has no responsibility coincides with the opinion of experts, which, however, arose at a political order. URM is needed, it manages geographic data, for example, but it will have to undergo a transformation.