Peter Gingell, communications office, Mepa, Floriana
Mepa's obligations in planning process
Victor Borg and Jane Carr (June 16, 21) question why the Malta Environment and Planning Authority is suddenly reconsidering the Ħondoq ir-Rummien planning application without simply "throwing it out".
Without going into the merits of this particular application, both Mr Borg and Ms Carr might not be aware that the authority has no legal right not to accept or to refuse to process a validated planning application submitted by a developer. It is only once an application has been "processed" that the deciding body within Mepa can take a reasoned decision whether to refuse or grant a development permit. For each major project processed, there is an entire motion with established and legal procedures which needs to be rigorously followed. These procedures ensure that every aspect of the planning application system is transparent, participative and carefully studied. In the case of an application for a major project, the applicant is required to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of the planning process.
While it is in the competence of the authority to provide the applicant with the EIA's objectives, it is the applicant's responsibility to carry out the required studies and data gathering. The authority in turn evaluates and comments upon the EIA report, as it remains that of the applicant and not Mepa. In fact, for the Ħondoq ir-Rummien project, Mepa's Environment Assessment Unit made some 235 observations on the conclusions of the applicant's report. The public hearing held in Qala on May 27 was one of the many stages throughout the planning application process whereby the public is given the facility to influence the final decision by the Mepa board.
The authority is assessing all the comments it received during the EIA public consultation, for the EIA consultant to update the final report. The Planning Directorate will then formulate a Development Planning Application Report (DPAR), which will include its recommendation on whether or not to issue a permit. Both the EIA report and the DPAR will be presented to the Mepa Board.
In his letter, Mr Borg also claims that by the Mepa Board's decision last year to grant permission for the re-development of the former Mġarr Hotel into residential units, the authority set a precedent of having hotels in outside development zones (ODZ) being reconstituted into luxury apartments.
This is far from correct. The authority has never granted a planning permit for the redevelopment of a hotel within ODZ into residential apartments.
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Charles Sammut NY USA
Jun 30th 2010, 23:51
Why do I have the feeling that if Mr Gingell had the same position in Rome he would be living in a condo where the Coliseum is today? Does he know what the letter E in MEPA stands for? If one has to take time to contemplate whether to develop Hondoq and bring in a Marina and Villas and a Hotel than that person has no idea what preserving the Environment means. As far as bringing in tourists I have yet to meet anyone that visits Imgarr to look at the Marina or to enjoy a awim down there.. Wake up Sir and get real. At this rate in a couple of years you will not have a job because there will be nothing left to overdevelop and destroy..
lesley kreupl
Jun 30th 2010, 20:36
Excuse me Mr. Gingell, but weren't the Mgarr Hotel, the St. Lawrenz Hotel and the Andar Hotel only given permission to build in ODZ areas because they were going to be tourist hotels? Fort Chambray is another example but, I won't go in to that Government 'give-away'.
What you are stating is a lot of codswoddle and even you must know that, if not, certainly Mr. Walker does!
James A. Tyrrell
Jun 30th 2010, 20:23
I think Peter Gingell can trace his ancestry back to the Brothers Grimm going by this fairytale! It is a joke that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is bought and paid for by the applicant. I mean what conclusion do you expect such a report to reach Peter?
As for the public hearing held in Qala to give the public the chance to influence any decision MEPA may come to wouldn't you agree that it failed it that objective? The foreign residents of Qala who do not speak Maltese were prevented from giving their views. As for the views of the Qala residents it is a well-published fact that 85% of them are opposed to the development.
It would be interesting if you also cleared up the former Mġarr Hotel issue. Are you saying that no such permit was granted for the building of residential apartments or are you saying that MEPA first of all changed the status of the area from ODZ to a development area?
Peadar Farrell
Jun 30th 2010, 11:07
I read the above with interest. I know of no country in the Developed world that you can apply for a permit to build on land that you do not own. If this is legal to do in Malta/Gozo the law should be changed immediately. This would eliminate this particular crazy situation and also deal with Dwejra and many other areas.
T Camilleri
Jun 30th 2010, 10:38
ONE SIMPLE QUESTION? WHY DOES IT CONSIDER AN APPLICATION IF IT IS IN AN ODZ? IS NOT AN ODZ SUPPOSED TO MEAN OUTSIDE DEVELOPMENT ZONE?