ODZ ‘adjustment’ foreseen by MEPA chairman

MEPA chairman Vince Cassar has signalled that the Authority is once again revising development zones approved by the previous administration in 2006. While excluding any “indiscriminate enlargement”, the MEPA chairman referred to an adjustment of boundaries.

“I am not in favour of further indiscriminate enlargement of already existing Development Zones, however I recognise that there are a number of anomalies that need to be addressed and adjusted.”

Cassar made this declaration in his introduction to this year’s MEPA annual report.  The local plans were set to be finalised in June 2015.

Writing in the same report MEPA CEO Johann Buttigieg revealed that the plans are now being assessed by the government.

Cassar argued that past decisions like the extension of building zones in 2006 and the introduction of areas of containment where industrial development is allowed in parts of the ODZ, had led to further anomalies being created.

He also expressed his view that whenever new sites are added to development zones, the parameters for such development should be established by the Planning Authority and not by the developers themselves.

His comments echo those of planning parliamentary secretary Michael Falzon who in an interview with MaltaToday in December also excluded a major extension of development boundaries but confirmed that boundaries may be extended in some cases. 

“The general political direction is that the new local plans will not double or triple the size of the development zone… We are saying clearly that as far as possible the development zone will not increase.” 

But when asked why the government does not simply keep boundaries as these are today, Falzon justified tweaking the 2006 boundaries by accusing the former government of being “creative” in including certain lands and not others. 

“Even from an aesthetic point of view it would make sense to include lands which were left out unfairly,” the minister said, while adding, “there is no intention to repeat the obscenities committed in 2006.”

Curiously the 2006 extension was also justified as a way of remedying anomalies created in 1988 when the newly elected PN government rushed to introduce the first development boundaries, leaving out a large number of plots earmarked by previous building schemes.

In the report Vince Cassar also expressed his frank views on MEPA’s enforcement, which he describes as “weak”. While arguing that the daily fines system introduced in 2012 is effective, Cassar still considers the fines as being on the low side.

“I am still of the opinion that the fines are on the low side and should be increased a hundredfold.”