The Malta Developers Association refers to the Nationalist Party proposal for projects in zones that fall outside development (ODZ) to require the approval of a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
As a rule, the MDA has been stressing that no more land located in ODZ should be approved for development, in particular for residences and commercial purposes.
While the MDA understands the motivations behind the proposal, the Association feels that this proposal is too vague and can only be adopted if certain issues are clarified, among them:
- The need for a clear difference between ODZ land that is pristine and intact and other ODZ land that has already been legally developed and committed.
- First and foremost, everyone should understand clearly how the building boundary was established. It appears that when this boundary was drawn up, some injustices were committed relating to small parcels of land. This can easily be resolved because it is so obvious since in some cases the current boundary makes no sense.
- The need for agreement on a clear definition of the word ‘projects’. If by projects one understands all types of development, then permits to build a greenhouse or to extend a quarry will require the approval of two-thirds of the House of Representatives. This is not practical.
- The importance to clarify everyone’s understanding of the meaning of the national interest that will lead Parliament to make exceptions to the rule. In any case, each permit issued in this manner should first be scrutinised by the authorities for the development application to be processed.
In this context, the MDA suggests that a study be conducted of the PN proposal following wide consultation with all those who are interested, and this will be enhanced with the necessary details.
11June, 2016
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L-MDA kontra l-iżvilupp fl-ODZ
Il-Malta Developers Association (MDA) tirreferi għall-proposta li saret mill-Partit Nazzjonalista biex ikun hemm bżonn l-approvazzjoni ta’ maġġoranza ta’ żewġ terzi fil-Parlament biex ikunu approvati proġetti f’zoni li mhumiex għall-iżvilupp.
L-MDA ilha tisħaq li bħala regola m’għandhiex tingħata aktar art għall-iżvilupp il-barra miz-zona ta’ żvilupp (ODZ), b’mod partikolari għal skopijiet ta’ residenzi jew skopijiet kummerċjali.
Filwaqt li l-MDA tifhem il-motivazzjoni wara l-proposta, l-Assoċjazzjoni tħoss li din il-proposta hi vaga wisq u tista’ tkun addottata biss jekk ikunu ċċarati xi kwestjonijiet, fosthom:
- Il-bżonn ta’ differenza ċara bejn artijiet mhux minsusa u intatti fl-ODZ u artijiet oħra fl-ODZ ukoll li huma diġà żviluppati legalment u kommessi bil-bini.
- Il-bżonn li l-ewwel ikun hemm qbil minn kulħadd dwar fejn għandha tkun il-linja speċifika bejn zona għall-iżvilupp u le. Jidher li meta saret din il-linja saru xi inġustizzji li jikkonċernaw biċċiet żgħar ta’ artijiet. Dawn faċilment jistgħu jkunu rranġati għaliex hu ovvju li linja ma tagħmilx sens kif saret.
- Il-bżonn li jkun hemm qbil dwar definizzjoni ċara tal-kelma ‘proġetti’. Jekk bi proġetti wieħed ifisser kull tip ta’ żvilupp, allura nispiċċaw biex permess biex tinbena serra jew tkun estiża barriera ikun jeħtieġlu l-approvazzjoni ta’ żewġ terzi tal-Kamra tar-Rappreżentanti. Dan ma jkunx prattiku.
- Il-bżonn li jkun ċar f’moħħ kulħadd xi jkun jikkomprendi l-interess nazzjonali li jwassal lill-Parlament biex jagħmel eċċezzjoni għar-regola. Fi kwalunkwe każ kull permess hekk maħruġ irid l-ewwel jgħaddi mill-iskrutinju tal-awtoritajiet stabbiliti biex jipproċessaw applikazzjonijiet għal żvilupp.
F’dan il-kuntest, l-MDA tissuġġerixxi li, b’konsultazzjoni wiesgħa ma’ kull min hu interessat, isir studju tal-proposta tal-PN u din titwessa bid-dettalji meħtieġa.
11 ta’ Ġunju, 2016