How can it be that a plot of land that has been designated as building land “for ages” suddenly becomes an object of dispute? This question arises in view of the current debate about the planned residential building on the so-called Rodelberg in St. Florian. As reported, Linz Textil, as the owner of the property, wants to build 37 apartments there. The citizens’ initiative “Rettet den Rodelberg” finds the project dimensions exaggerated, the building density with a floor area ratio of 0.75 is too high.
At the end of April, the preliminary drafts of the project are to be presented to the municipality and the citizens’ initiative, which Linz Textil emphasizes is interested in “a good solution for everyone”. The development plan for the project must then be worked out in detail and then submitted to the committee and the municipal council, in which the ÖVP has the absolute majority, for approval. So far the procedure.
“Building density was not an issue”
Mayor Bernd Schützeneder (VP) sees the fact that a (political) debate about the construction of the Rodelberg has ignited “with a delay” about the construction of the Rodelberg – despite unanimity in all decisions in the municipal council – as being due to a change in strategy by the citizens’ initiative – away from preserving the Rodelberg and from non-obstructing to as little obstruction as possible.
Previously it had been discussed, among other things, whether an “equestrian right to tobogganing” could be legally enforced. According to Schützeneder, it is not. His perception: “Until February 21 of this year, building density was not an issue. Now it is and there is no longer any mention of the toboggan hill.”
Said building density (which was reduced with a new planning area) is one of the major criticisms of the project. Schützeneder argues that this results from the environment, with four-storey residential buildings directly opposite the building area. Addendum: “This floor area ratio of 0.75 is a moderate densification for town centers.”
“Loured On the Wrong Track”
Thomas Ruttenstorfer from the citizens’ initiative sees it differently: “We are aware that the property can be built on, but it should be compatible. The project is simply oversized.” The initiative is again calling for a reassessment, arguing, for example, that in the vicinity of the area there are also terraced houses in addition to multi-storey buildings. Criticism of the building density is not new, for about a year it has been pointed out that a solution has to be found that is supported by everyone involved.
Criticism also comes from the FPÖ, which sees itself “led down the wrong track” by the mayor, as parliamentary group leader Johannes Leonhartsberger puts it. In the project, the number of apartments was always discussed, but not the number of floor areas – and thus about facts irrelevant to the dimension of the project. With the current state of knowledge, the FPÖ would no longer agree. (jp, rgr)
Source: Nachrichten
