The Planning Commission yesterday approved three applications for development and sanctioning on outside development zone sites against the recommendations of the respective case officers.

An application to build four garages with a total area of 1,857 square metres for a quarry in Mqabba was approved despite having been recommended for refusal, as the additional garages were considered excessive and contrary to a policy promoting the rehabilitation of quarries.

The application also included sanctioning variations and converting stores to additional garages. The site is considered a buffer zone for an area of archaeological importance and a groundwater safeguard zone.

The Planning Commission board, however, noted that the site was already committed by various permits and that the Malta Resources Authority had raised no objections.

The case officer, recommending refusal, had noted the change of use was not essential to the running of the dairy farm,and therefore unjustifiable

Meanwhile, an application to sanction the heaping of soil on a site at Dar il-Bajda, Mellieħa, as well as the levelling out of a field with inert material, had been flagged up by the case officer due to the deterioration of the existing natural habitat, with significant changes to the topography.

The Environment Protection Directorate and Heritage Advisory Committee had both objected to sanctioning. The Planning Commission board, however, said the approval of the Agricultural Advisory Committee meant the project was in line with the rural policy and voted to approve.

The board also gave approval for hay stores to be used to park agricultural machinery and garage related equipment on a dairy farm in San Pawl Kuntent, Rabat, as well as sanctioning variations.

The case officer, recommending refusal, had noted that the change of use was not essential to the running of the dairy farm, and therefore unjustifiable, and that the proposed industrial use was beyond the uses that could be considered in rural settlements.

The board, however, considered that the site lay within a category three rural settlement and was compliant with the relevant policies. It also noted that the project did not take up fresh land and that landscaping had been added to enhance the rural landscape.