Updated 9.45am with comments by NGOs
The Planning Authority will on Thursday decide on two ODZ fuel stations, including a controversial application in Luqa that drew protests at its last hearing.
The proposed fuel station, on 3,000 square metres of agricultural land on Qormi Road, hangs in the balance after a hearing on April 5 when exactly half the PA board members stated their intention to go against the case officer’s recommendation and reject the application, forcing a postponement.
Chairman Vince Cassar, who holds a casting vote, was among those who opposed the development, so the application will be rejected today if the board votes in line with the intentions expressed last month.
However, board members are not bound by those stated intentions – in fact, some changed their position in a similar case over a fuel station in Magħtab in January – and three board members who were absent in April could sway the vote if they are present for today’s hearing.
The April hearing had been delayed for hours after Moviment Graffiti and Kamp Emerġenza Ambjent activists occupied the PA boardroom demanding the application be suspended until the completion of an ongoing review of the contentious 2015 Fuel Service Stations Policy. The policy review, as well as activists’ allegations of collusion between the PA and developers, were among the reasons for refusal cited by PA board members, along with the take-up of agricultural land, environmental impacts, and concerns that the size exceeded that allowed by the policy.
Board members are not bound by stated intentions
Meanwhile, the PA board will today also decide on an application for another fuel station at Tal-Blata L-Għolja, Mosta.
The application, which was submitted way back in 2002, is recommended for refusal as the site is not located on an arterial or distributor road, as required by policy, and exceeds the maximum footprint of 3,000 square metres.
The case officer also noted that the proposal lacked details and studies needed for a holistic assessment, while environmental concerns were raised due to the possibility of groundwater contamination and benzene emissions.
Earlier this month, the PA rejected plans for two ODZ fuel stations in Żebbuġ and Iklin, both of which were ruled to be in breach of the policy as they would have been less than 500 metres away from the next station.
The applications are among at least 14 for new or relocated stations outside development zones which have been submitted or approved since the policy was introduced in 2015, amounting to an area of land more than five times the size of the Floriana Granaries.
The revised policy is set to ban any new fuel stations outside development zones and introduce stricter limits on size and siting. However, it will not apply to pending applications, which will continue to be assessed under the existing, more permissive, framework.
Representatives of a number of environmental organisations held a press conference before Thursday's Planning Authority meeting and insisted that the applications should be rejected.
Andre Callus, of the Graffitti Movement warned of 'powers behind the curtain' and urged the PA to confirm the indications given at the last hearing that the application would be rejected.
However he expressed concern of a different outcome today.
"Could it be that certain planning board members who are seldom present at board meetings are brought in for specific meetings to ensure that certain applications are approved? And could it also be that certain board members change their vote for reasons that have nothing to do with safeguarding the public interest?" he asked.
Everyone should closely watch the vote and draw one's conclusions, he said.
The organisations were Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, Din L-Art Ħelwa, Ramblers Association, Graffitti, BirdLife, Friends of the Earth, Zminijietna, Nature Trust and Camp Emerġenza Ambjent.